Institute of Metals Division - The Effect of Nonuniform Precipitation on the Fatigue Properties of an Age Hardening Alloy

The nonuniform distribution of precipitate particles has been recognized as a leading factor contributing to the relatively low fatigue resistance of aluminum alloys. The structure of many of these alloys is characterized by narrow precipitate-free zones adjacent to the grain boundaries. Alloys with such zones exhibit a tendency for brittle inter crystalline fracture. The interrelation between this type of structure and mechanical properties was investigated in an Al-10 wt pct Mg alloy. It was found that deformation during fatigue occurs preferentially along these zones and cracks initiate there. In Al-10wt pct Mg, the zones were found to be supersaturated even after extensive general precipitation and are due to the absence of proper precipitate nuclei in the region near the grain boundaries. Cold working the alloy prior to aging improves the mechanical properties by inducing precipitation within the zones and also by jogging of grain boundaries. The mode of fracture is changed from brittle inter crystalline to more ductile trans granular fracture. THE process of fatigue is highly structure sensitive, with the strength of the whole often dependent upon some localized discontinuity, either geometrical or metallurgical in nature. Much has been learned about the role of geometrical discontinuities, e.g., notches, in fatigue, but with the exception of the effects of inclusions or the shapes of carbides, relatively little is known about the specific effects of discontinuities in metallurgical structure such as nonuniform precipitation. In most age-hardening aluminum alloys, metallo-graphic studies have shown that the extent of precipitation adjacent to grain boundaries is much less than that which occurs in the interior of the grains. The width of these almost precipitate-free regions, which are sometimes called denuded zones, and the extent of solute depletion within them, are dependent upon the particular alloy and its aging treatment. It has been observed1 that these zones are relatively soft with the result that plastic deformation takes place preferentially within them. It has also been shown 2-4 that there exists a tendency for intercrys- talline cracking in fatigue when such zones are present. It is of interest to note that Broom et al.2,3 were able to reduce the incidence of this type of failure in an A1-4 wt pct Cu alloy by stretching the material 10 pct prior to aging. In the present study, the effects of precipitate-free regions on the fatigue properties of an A1-10 wt pct Mg alloy were studied in detail, and the effects of deformation prior to aging on the nature of the precipitation process as well as on fatigue properties were also investigated. MATERIAL AND PROCESSING An A1-10 wt pct Mg alloy was selected for this study, because it was known that well-defined precipitate-free regions along the grain boundaries are readily obtained in this alloy after aging at 200oC.5 The starting materials were 99.998 pct A1 and singly sublimed magnesium of about 99.9 pct purity. The aluminum was induction melted in a graphite crucible, and then the magnesium addition was immersed until dissolved. Chlorine gas was then bubbled through the molten alloy for 4 min to degas the melt, after which the melt was cast at a pouring temperature of 730" to 760°C into a cold, graphite-coated, tapered steel mold. Since A1-Mg alloys are difficult to homogenize,5 special care was taken to obtain a uniform composition. Two-in. cubes were cut from the ingot and heated at 446°C for 30 min. These cubes were then hot forged approximately 35 pct in each of the three cube directions and homogenized for 16 hr at 446°C. Sheet specimens were then obtained by pressing 40 pct and rolling 35 pct per pass with reheating between reduction steps to a final thickness of approximately 0.10 in. The sheet was then solution treated for 16 hr at 446°C and water quenched. The age hardening behavior of this material at 200°C was then determined, and the results are shown in Fig. 1. The age hardening of this alloy when subjected to cold work prior to aging is also shown in this figure. Preliminary work indicated that extensive deformation after quenching was required to affect drastically the precipitate-free regions in this alloy, and a rolling reduction of 50 pct was chosen. For purposes of comparison the following three conditions were studied: a) Solution treated, quenched, and aged 20 hr at 200°C