• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.241-251
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• 2021

7000-series aluminum alloys are noted for their superior strength compared with other Al alloys, and their billets are generally fabricated by direct-chill (DC) casting. Surface defects in a DC-cast aluminum billet are mainly related to exudation and the meniscus freezing phenomenon, which are influenced by alloy compositions, casting speed, and casting temperature. 7000-series aluminum alloys have a wide freezing range during solidification, which makes it easy for casting defects to occur. In this study, we investigated surface defect evolution in casting billets of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy fabricated by a DC casting process. The billets showed "wavy" or "dotted" surfaces. The wavy surface was formed by meniscus freezing at a lower casting speed (200 mm/min) and temperature (655 ℃). In the wavy surface, refined dendritic cells were observed in a concave region due to the constitutional supercooling caused by meniscus freezing. Meanwhile, at a higher casting temperature (675 ℃), the dotted surface was formed by pore formation. In the dotted surfaces in the billet formed at a high casting speed (230 mm/min), an exudation layer was formed by the high metallostatic head pressure. The dotted region and the smooth region had a refined dendritic morphology and a columnar morphology at the exudation layer, respectively. This is attributed to the formation of gas pores in the dotted region.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2004

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of process conditions on the microstructual changes and mechanical properties of large 7175 aluminum die forgings. The cast billets of 370 and 720 mm in diameter were homogenized and die forged after direct chill casting. The size and volume fraction of second phase particles in 720 mm billet were larger than those of 370 mm billet. The interdendritic sites containing the second phase particles was considered to be a crack initiation region in the process of cold upsetting. The tensile and yield strength of die forged specimens of 720 mm billet in the direction of Land L T were higher than those of 370 mm billet. However, the tensile strength of these specimens were 5 to 10% lower than that of American military specification. The plane strain fracture toughness of die forged specimens of 370 mm cast billet showed almost the same level of 720 mm billet, which was die forged after free forging.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2001

The 7175Al alloy is particularly interesting for its high strength and sufficient ductility, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance. Currently vigorous efforts have been made to develop large rockets usable for various purposes in the space. This has created the demand of big size of 7175Al billet which would be applied to heavy forgings. The aim of this study is to investigate the quality level of big billet and the effect of billet size on the mechanical properties of large 7175Al ring roll forgings. The billets range from 370 mm to 720 mm in diameter were homogenized and forged after direct chill casting. The size and volume fraction of second phase particles In ${\Phi}720$ mm billet are larger than those of ${\Phi}370$ mm billet, and its ductility is lower for the condition of homogenization and T6 treatment. The Cu-rich phases formed in interdendritic sites are considered to provide the preferential crack path during cold upsetting. The fracture toughness of ring roll forgings which are made by ${\Phi}370$ mm billet is higher than those of ${\Phi}720$ mm billet.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2004

The aim of this study is to investigate the process conditions on the microstructual changes and mechanical properties of large 7175 aluminum ring roll forgings. The billets range from 370 mm to 720 mm in diameter were homogenized and ring roll forged after direct chill casting. The tensile properties of ring roll forged specimen manufactured with ${\Phi}370mm$ billets were superior to those of ${\Phi}720mm$ billets under $T_6$ condition. Also, these properties showed better than those of military specification under $T_{74}$ treatment. The impact value of ring roll forged specimen under $T_{74}$ treatment increased up to 20% than that of $T_6$ condition. The fracture toughness of ring roll forged specimen manufactured with ${\Phi}370mm$ cast billet showed nearly same level of ${\Phi}720mm$ billet which was processed using MF or Cog free forging followed by ring roll forging.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.40-45
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• 2016

The manufacturing process of large scaled Al 7050 alloy is difficult for the occurrence of solidification crack during casting. The aims of this study are the evaluations of microstructure and mechanical properties of extruded Al 7050 billet and ring forged one with large scale. Large scaled Al 7050 billet was casted by direct-chill casting process. The extruded and ring forged specimens were prepared from the casted ingot after residual stress relief and homogenization heat treatment, respectively. Microstructures, hardness and tensile test of the surface, middle and center part of each specimen were performed at room temperature. Sheared and elongated type grains were observed at the edge parts of surface and center area and its aspect ratios of grains were low and similar as 0.21 while that of middle area was closed to 0.92 value in ring forged Al 7050 alloy. The mechanical properties of extruded Al 7050 alloy were superior than those of ring forged one. The hardness values of surface and center part were slightly higher than that of middle part in ring forged Al 7050 alloy.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.812-818
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to investigate the fabrication processes on the microstructual changes and mechanical properties of large 7175 aluminum die forgings. The billets range from 370 to 720 mm in diameter were homogenized and hot forged after direct chill casting. The strength and elongation of the homogenized cast billets were revealed nearly same level independent of the billet diameter. However, these properties of ø370 mm cast billet were superior to those of $\Pie720$ mm billet under$ T_{6}$ / condition. The tensile strength of die forged specimens under $T_{6}$ condition increased up to 20% than that of solution treatment, however, the elongation was reduced to 50%. The fracture toughness of die forged specimens under $T_{6}$ condition was 35.6∼39.0 MPa$.$$m^{1}$2 irrespective of the billet size and free forging processes, but this property increased up to 10% by$V_{74}$ treatment. The fracture toughness of die forged specimen manufactured with ø370 mm cast billet showed nearly same level of ø720 mm billet which was processed using MF or Cog free forging followed by die forging.