The Influence of Ageing Time and Temperature on the Structure and Properties of Heat Treated A201.0 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

The effect of ageing time and temperature following quenching from solution treatment at 540±2 O C on the micro structure and properties of A201.0 Al alloy was studied. Using thermodynamic modeling with JMatPro, the intermetallic phases that exist at the end of solification was determined. Intermetallic phases like CuAl 2 , Al 2 CuMg and Mg-Si phase contribute to the hardness of the alloy. Ageing was carried out upto a maximum duration of 10000 hours at a constant temperature of 170±2 O C. As ageing time increased, the hardness of the alloy increased due to the enhanced presence of Guinier-Preston (GP) zones which are coherent with the alloy matrix. With further ageing (overageing) the hardness of the alloy decreases as the precipitate loses its coherency with the alloy matrix.