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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a High-Ductility Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Aluminum Alloy Fabricated by Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing

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Abstract

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a feasible technology for manufacturing large-scale metal structures. Nevertheless, this technology is seldom used to fabricate high-performance Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloy at present due to its poor machinability and hot cracking sensitivity. 7075 aluminum wires were used herein as a raw material to produce the thin-wall block structure by (cold metal transfer) CMT-WAAM. The microstructure and properties of deposited samples with different orientations were studied compared with traditional cast 7075 aluminum alloy. Results indicate that the microstructure of the deposited samples in the horizontal direction is mainly composed of a small amount of fine columnar crystal structure and equiaxed crystal composition. Most of the grains in the deposition direction layer are coarse equiaxed and a few slender columnar grains. In the process of preparation, the precipitation of the second phase was observed, which was mainly composed of Mg2Si and (Mg (Zn, Cu, Al)2) phases. The microhardness and wear resistance of the deposited samples is lower than those of cast 7075 aluminum alloy, while the corrosion resistance is better. The anisotropic microstructure triggers subtle differences in properties with different directions, the tensile strength in the horizontal direction is better than that in the deposition direction, and the elongation in each direction is higher than 30%. The process of dynamic reversion and static recrystallization lead to low dislocation density and increased elongation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Foundation (QKHJC ZK [2021] general 241), Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Support Project (QKHZC [2021] general 309), Natural Science Research Project of Guizhou Provincial Education Department (QJH KY Z [2021]098) and Fostering Projects of Guizhou University ([2020]66).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Materials and Metallurgy, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China

    Zhongwen Hu, Peng Xu, Chi Pang & Qibin Liu

  2. Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology of the Ministry of Educating, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China

    Shaobo Li

  3. HanKaiSi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Guiyang, 550016, China

    Peng Xu & Jiangshan Li

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  1. Zhongwen Hu
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PX: designed the experiment and modify the manuscript; ZH: performed the experiment and Write the manuscript; CP: Revise manuscripts and lab instructions; QL: Provide theoretical support; SL: Theoretical guidance and manuscript writing guidance; JL: Guide the completion of experiments.

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Correspondence to Peng Xu.

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Hu, Z., Xu, P., Pang, C. et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a High-Ductility Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Aluminum Alloy Fabricated by Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 31, 6459–6472 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-022-06715-6

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