Influences of contents of Mg (0.2∼0.9 at%) and Si (0.1∼0.6 at%) and additional elements (0.01∼0.2 at%) on the two-stage aging phenomena in Al–Mg–Si alloys have been studied by measurements of hardness and electrical resistivity and electron microscope observations.
Pre-aging at 30°C or 90°C coarsens the precipitate structures in Al–Mg–Si alloys containing more than about 1.1 at% Mg
2Si on artificial aging at 175°C or 200°C, leading to a decrease in strength of the alloys, whereas a refinement of the needle-like precipitates takes place in the alloys containing less than about 0.9 at% Mg
2Si.
The negative effect of pre-aging on Al–1.05 at%Mg
2Si alloy is decreased by additions of Mn, Cr, Zr, V and Fe, but increased by additions of Ag, Cu, Be, Cd and Zn. This may be caused by the fact that the apparent contents of Mg
2Si in the alloys are increased by the latter, but decreased by the former since those additional elements can easily form insoluble compounds with Si and Al atoms.
Based on the obtained results, it is deduced that formation of solute clusters at pre-aging and solute supersaturation by artificial aging play an important role in the two-stage aging in Al–Mg–Si alloys.
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