THE EFFECT OF Zr ON AGING KINETICS AND PROPERTIES OF AS-CAST AA6082 ALLOY

摘要

In aluminum alloys, zirconium is usually used as a recrystallization inhibitor and microstructure refiner. Its minor addition to alloy composition could produce a significant precipitation hardening response and enhance the both physical and chemical properties. In this work, the effect of zirconium on the aging kinetics of a commercial as-cast AA6082 alloy was investigated using Avrami equations obtained from the variation in electrical conductivity values as a function of aging time at 180 degrees C (356 degrees F). The results showed that the aging kinetics slowed down and the matrix hardness of aged alloy enhanced due to Zr addition.