1 GPA high-strength high-modulus aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy and preparation method thereof

Abstract

A 1 GPa high-strength high-modulus aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy and a preparation method thereof. An atomic expression of the designed medium-entropy alloy is Al.sub.xLi.sub.yMg.sub.zZn.sub.uCu.sub.v, subscripts representing the molar percentage of each corresponding alloy element, where x+y+z+u+v=100, x is 79.5-80.5, y is 1.5-2.5, z is 1.5-2.5, u is 13.5-14.5, and v is 1.5-2.5. The phase structure of the involved alloy is mainly based on a face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution. The present invention obtains high performance aluminum alloy ingots through vacuum induction smelting and direct casting, and features low energy consumption, decreased cost, and simple operation in the preparation process, which cater to the high requirements on cost, strength and plasticity of light alloys applied in the high-end manufacturing industries such as aerospace and automobile electronics nowadays.

Claims

1. An aluminum-based alloy, wherein the molecular formula of the alloy is Al.sub.xLi.sub.yMg.sub.zZn.sub.uCu.sub.v, subscripts representing the atomic molar percentage of each corresponding alloy element; wherein Al 79.3%-80.7%; Li 1.3%-2.7%; Mg 1.3%-2.7%; Zn 13.3%-14.7%; Cu 1.3%-2.7%.

2. A preparation method of the aluminum-based alloy according to claim 1, wherein the preparation process comprises the following steps: step 1, proportioning Al, Zn, Cu and Mg-20 wt % Li binary master alloy in alloy ingredients according to the atomic molar percentages; removing oxide layers on the surface of each raw material by using a grinding machine before proportioning, and then weighing the raw materials by using an electronic balance, wherein the purity of each raw material is greater than 99.9%; step 2, putting the proportioned raw materials in a graphite crucible sequentially according to the sequence of melting points from high to low, putting an element with the highest melting point at the lowest position, and putting an element with the lowest melting point at the highest position; step 3, putting the graphite crucible loaded with the alloy materials in a spiral induction coil, vacuumizing to 20 Pa and below by using a mechanical pump, and then introducing argon to 0.3 MPa; step 4, starting a high-frequency induction device, gradually increasing induction heating current when the current is within the range of 100 A to 200 A, and after an alloy ingot is molten completely, maintaining the molten condition of the alloy and preserving the temperature for 13 to 17 min so that each alloy element is diffused uniformly; and step 5, turning off an induction power supply, casting an alloy melt in a stainless steel mold in a diameter of 75 mm so as to obtain an alloy ingot.

3. The preparation method of the aluminum-based alloy according to claim 2, wherein the temperature when the alloy is molten in step 4 is controlled between 700° C. to 1000° C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an X-ray diffraction (XRD) map of a high-strength high-modulus aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy Al.sub.xLi.sub.yMg.sub.zZn.sub.uCu.sub.v in an embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a scanning electron microscope (SEM) photograph of the high-strength high-modulus aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy Al.sub.xLi.sub.yMg.sub.zZn.sub.uCu.sub.v in an embodiment of the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 3 is compression stress-strain curve chart of the high-strength high-modulus aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy Al.sub.xLi.sub.yMg.sub.zZn.sub.uCu.sub.v in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1

(4) The molecular formula of a high-strength aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy in the embodiment is Al.sub.80Zn.sub.14Li.sub.2Mg.sub.2Cu.sub.2, and the preparation process includes the following steps: prepare 100 g of Al.sub.80Zn.sub.14Li.sub.2Mg.sub.2Cu.sub.2 from raw materials, such as Al, Zn, Cu and Mg-20 wt % Li binary master alloy, with the purities of greater than 99.9%; put the proportioned raw materials in a graphite crucible sequentially according to the sequence of melting points from high to low, put an element with the highest melting point at the lowest position, and put an element with the lowest melting point at the highest position; put the graphite crucible loaded with the alloy materials in a spiral induction coil, vacuumize to 20 Pa and below, and then introduce argon to 0.3 MPa; start a high-frequency induction device, gradually increase heating current when the heating current is within the range of 100 A to 200 A, and after an alloy ingot is molten completely, maintain the molten condition of the alloy for 15 min so that the alloy composition is uniform; and cast a uniformly molten alloy solution in a stainless steel mold in a diameter of 75 mm. The embodiment provides a high-strength aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy, the compressive strength of the alloy exceeds 1 GPa, and the fracture plasticity reaches 22%.

Embodiment 2

(5) The molecular formula of the high-strength aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy in the embodiment is Al.sub.83Zn.sub.11Li.sub.2Mg.sub.2Cu.sub.2, and the preparation process includes the following steps: prepare 100 g of Al.sub.83Zn.sub.11Li.sub.2Mg.sub.2Cu.sub.2 from raw materials, such as Al, Zn, Cu and Mg-20 wt % Li binary master alloy, with the purities of greater than 99.9%; put the proportioned raw materials in the graphite crucible sequentially according to the sequence of melting points from high to low, put an element with the highest melting point at the lowest position, and put an element with the lowest melting point at the highest position; put the graphite crucible loaded with the alloy materials in a spiral induction coil, vacuumize to 20 Pa and below, and then introduce argon to 0.3 MPa; start a high-frequency induction device, gradually increase heating current when the heating current is within the range of 100 A to 200 A, and after an alloy ingot is molten completely, maintain the molten condition of the alloy for 15 min so that the alloy composition is uniform; and cast the uniformly molten alloy solution in the stainless steel mold in a diameter of 75 mm. The compressive strength of the aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy obtained in the embodiment reaches 904 MPa.

Embodiment 3

(6) The molecular formula of the high-strength aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy in the embodiment is Al.sub.77Zn.sub.17Li.sub.2Mg.sub.2Cu.sub.2, and the preparation process includes the following steps: prepare 100 g of Al.sub.77Zn.sub.17Li.sub.2Mg.sub.2Cu.sub.2 from raw materials, such as Al, Zn, Cu and Mg-20 wt % Li binary master alloy, with the purities of greater than 99.9%; put the proportioned raw materials in the graphite crucible sequentially according to the sequence of melting points from high to low, put an element with the highest melting point at the lowest position, and put an element with the lowest melting point at the highest position; put the graphite crucible loaded with the alloy materials in a spiral induction coil, vacuumize to 20 Pa and below, and then introduce argon to 0.3 MPa; start a high-frequency induction device, gradually increase heating current when the heating current is within the range of 100 A to 200 A, and after an alloy ingot is molten completely, maintain the molten condition of the alloy for 15 min so that the alloy composition is uniform; and cast the uniformly molten alloy solution in the stainless steel mold in a diameter of 75 mm. The compressive strength of the aluminum-based light medium-entropy alloy obtained in the embodiment reaches 926 MPa.

(7) Above all, the method of the present invention is simple and practicable. The above embodiments only illustrate the technical conceptions and characteristics of the present invention, and aim to enable persons to get familiar with the technology to understand the content of the present invention and perform the implementation, but not to limit the protective scope of the present invention. All equivalent amendments or modifications for the spiritual natures of the present invention should be contained in the protective scope of the present invention.