Effect of homogenization treatment conditions on the recrystallization behavior of Al-1.2MN aluminum alloy sheets

Abstract

Aluminum foil is commonly used as a cathode current collector within lithium ion battery. To reduce thickness of the foil, one kind of high strength Al-1.2Mn alloy has been developed. In its fabrication process, the recrystallization structure after intermediate annealing greatly affects the surface topography of foil. In this study, the relationship between recrystallization structure during intermediate annealing after rolling and homogenization treatment conditions of Al-1.2Mn alloys has been investigated. Homogenization was carried out with one step treatment or two steps treatment. It was found that one step homogenization treated cold-rolling sheets had higher recrystallization temperature and finer complete recrystallization grains compared to two steps homogenization treated cold-rolling sheets. This phenomenon can be explained by the relationship between Mn precipitation and recrystallization behavior during intermediate annealing.