• 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.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2004

The microstructural changes of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy containing Sc during hot extrusion and post heat treatment were investigated. Two kinds of Al-Sc alloys with different alloying elements (B1, B2) were hot extruded to make T-shape bars at extrusion temperature of $380^{\circ}C$, then the bars were solution treated at $480^{\circ}C$ for 2hrs followed by artificial aging at $120^{\circ}C$ for 24hrs. The interior microstructure of as extruded bar consisted of elongated grains, however, fine equiaxed grains were also observed around surface. The microstructural gradient suggested that different restoration process could proceed during the hot extrusion. For B1 and B2, different grain growth behaviors were found around the surface during the post heat treatment. Rapid grain growth behavior was observed for B1 around the surface, however, it was not observed for B2. Orientation pinning, which was related with the evolution of preferred orientation, and precipitation were thought to be responsible for the rapid grain growth.

• Proceedings of the Korean Powder Metallurgy Institute Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.536-537
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• 2006

In the present work, the sintering behavior of high strength Al-5.6Zn-2.5Mg-1.6Cu (in wt.%) alloy compacts prepared from elemental powders was investigated. Microstructural evaluation was accompanied by XRD and DSC methods in order to determine the temperature and chemical composition of the liquid phases formed during sintering. It was found that three transient liquid phases are formed at 420, 439 and 450 $^{\circ}C$. Microstructural study revealed the progressive formation of sintered contacts due to the presence of the liquid phases, although the green compact expands as a result of the melt penetration along the grain boundaries. While Zn melts at ${\sim}420\;^{\circ}C$, the intermetallic phases formed between Al and Mg were found to be responsible for the formation of liquid phase and the dimensional change at higher temperatures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Reliability Society Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.117-120
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• 2002

The addition of minor alloying elements such as Al, Si, Mg, Cr, Zr, and Sn changed the microstructure and the oxidation characteristics of the Cu-40%Zn alloys. Detailed microstructure, scale morphology and the oxidation mechanism were described.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2021

The effects of heat treatments (T6 and T73) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and high cycle fatigue behavior of modified AA7075 alloys were investigated. A modified 7075 alloy was manufactured using modified-Mg (Mg-Al2Ca) instead of the conventional element Mg. Based on the microstructure, the average grain size was 4.5 ㎛ (T6) and 5.2 ㎛ (T73). Regardless of heat treatment, the modified AA7075 alloys consisted of Al matrix containing homogeneously distributed Al2CuMg and MgZn2 phases with reduced Fe-intermetallic compound. Room temperature tensile tests showed that the properties of modified 7075-T6 (Y.S.: 622MPa, T.S: 675MPa, elongation: 15.4%) were superior to those of T73 alloy (Y.S.: 492MPa, T.S: 548MPa, elongation: 12.8%). Experimental data show that the fatigue life of T6 was 400 MPa, about 64% of its yield strength. However, the fatigue life of T73 alloy was 330 MPa and 67%. Irrespective of the stress level, all crack initiation points were located on the specimen surface, and no inclusions acting as stress concentrators were seen. Superior mechanical properties and high cycle fatigue behavior of modified AA7075-T6 alloy are attributed to the fine grains and homogeneous distribution of small second phases such as MgZn2 and Al2CuMg, in addition to reduced Fe-intermetallic compounds.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.140-147
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• 2020

This paper presents a hypothesis and its experimental validation that ∆E (E_sec,corr - E_corr) of cyclic polarization curve of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy decreases firstly and then increases with the increasing of corrosion rate or corroded fraction F_corr of alloy surface. The minimum value of ∆E is obtained when F_corr ≈ 50%. In addition, a proportional relationship between ∆E and |50% - F_corr| was found. This non-monotonic relation between ∆E and extent of localized corrosion indicates that additional attention should be paid on using ∆E to assess localized corrosion behaviour of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.292-300
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• 2001

The paper describes spectroscopic characteristics of plasma induces in the pulsed YAG laser welding of alloys containing a large amount of volatile elements. The authors have conducted the spectroscopic analyses of laser induced Al-Mg alloys plasma in the air and argon atmosphere. In the air environment, the identified spectra were atomic lines of Al, Mg, Cr, Mn, Cu, Fe and Zn, and singly ionized Mg lines, as well as the intense molecular spectra of A10 and Mg0 formed by chemical reactions of evaporated Al and Mg atoms from the pool surface with oxygen in the air. In argon atmosphere, Mg0 and AI0 spectra vanished, but AIH spectrum was detected. The hydrogen source was presumably hydrogen dissolved in the base metals, water absorbed on the surface oxide layer, or $H_2$ and $H_2O$ in the shielding gas. The resonant 1ines of Al and Mg were strongly self-absorbed, in particular, self-absorption of the Mg 1ine was predominant. These results show that the laser induced plasma was made of metal1ic vapor with relatively low temperature and high density.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate types and formation mechanism of cracks in two Al alloy welds, A5083 and A7N01 spot-welded by pulse Nd : YAG laser, using SEM, EPMA and Micro-XRD. In the weld zone, three types of crack were observed : center line crack({TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX}), diagonal crack({TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX}), and U shape crack({TEX}$C_{U}${/TEX}). Also, HAZ crack({TEX}$C_{H}${/TEX}) was observed in the HAZ region, furthermore, mixing crack({TEX}$C_{M}${/TEX}) consisting of diagonal crack and HAZ crack was observed. White film was formed at th hot crack region in the fractured surface after it was immersed to 10% NaOH water. In the case of A5083 alloy, white films in {TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX} crack and {TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX} crack region were composed of low melting phases, {TEX}$Fe_{2}SiAl_{8}${/TEX} and eutectic phases, $Mg_2$Al$_3$ and $Mg_2$Si. Such films observed $CuAl_2$, {TEX}$Mg_{32}(Al,Zn)_{3}${/TEX}, MgZn$_2$, $Al_2$CuMg and $Mg_2$Si were observed in the whitely etched films near {TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX} crack and {TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX} crack regions. The formation of liquid films was due to the segregation of Mg, Si, Fe in the case of A5083 alloy and Zn, Mg, Cu, Sim in the case of A7N01 alloy, respectively. The {TEX}$C_{C}${/TEX} and {TEX}$C_{D}${/TEX} cracks were regarded as a result of the occurrence of tensile strain during the welding process. The formation of {TEX}$C_{M}${/TEX} crack is likely to be due to the presence of liquid film at the grain boundary near the fusion line in the base metal as well as in the weld fusion zone during solidification. The {TEX}$C_{U}${/TEX} crack is considered a result of the collapsed keyhole through incomplete closure during rapid solidification.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2010

In this study, the effect of Sn and Mg on microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu-Fe-P alloy were investigated by using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, tensile strength, electrical conductivity, thermal softening, size and distribution of the precipitation phases in order to satisfy characteristic for lead frame material. It was observed that Cu-0.14wt%Fe-0.03wt%P-0.05wt%Si-0.1wt%Zn with Sn and Mg indicates increasing tensile strength compare with PMC90 since Sn restrained the growth of the Fe-P precipitation phase on the matrix. However, the electrical conductivity was decreased by adding addition of Sn and Mg because Sn was dispersed on the matrix and restrained the growth of the Fe-P precipitation. The size of 100 nm $Mg_3P_2$ precipitation phase was observed having lattice parameter $a:12.01{\AA}$ such that [111] zone axis. According to the results of the study, the tensile strength and the electrical conductivity satisfied the requirements of lead frame; so, there is the possibility of application as a substitution material for lead frame of Cu alloy.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 1992.05a
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• pp.14-14
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• 1992

During the past five years a very successful effort has been made to improve existing and develop new aluminium alloys. The progress achieved has been possible because of the development of new production methods, such as powder metallurgy and spray/deposition. These methods make use of rapid solidification process which alloys compositions other than those achieved by conventional ingot metallurgy. The ingot metallurgy of the 2000 and 7000 series used thus far, as well as the age hardening Al-Li alloys, show several disadvantages caused by the production process. Such problems are primarily coarse intermetallic constituent phases, coarse grains and macrosegregation, resulting in low fracture toughness. The present contribution reports results of an experimental investigation performed on a modern high strength spay deposited aluminium alloy of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (7075 and the modified 7150X) type. Results are given in terms of its microstructural characterization by using X-ray diffractomertry and transmission electron microscopic. The mechanical propierties of those alloys in the as-extruded and extruded+aged condition were evaluated by using microhardness Vickers, tensile test and fracture toughness measurements.