Microstructural evolution of Al-8.59Zn-2.00Mg-2.44Cu during homogenization

The microstructural evolution and phase transformations of a high-alloyed Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy （Al-8.59Zn-2.00Mg-2.44Cu,wt%） during homogenization were investigated. The results show that the as-cast microstructure mainly contains dendritic α（Al）, non-equilibrium eutectics （α（Al） ＋ Mg（Zn,Al,Cu）2）, and the θ （Al2Cu） phase. Neither the T （Al2Mg3Zn3） phase nor the S （Al2CuMg） phase was found in the as-cast alloy. The calculated phase components according to the Scheil model are in agreement with experimental results. During homogenization at 460℃, all of the θ phase and most of the Mg（Zn,Al,Cu）2 phase were dissolved, whereas a portion of the Mg（Zn,Al,Cu）2 phase was transformed into the S phase. The type and amount of residual phases remaining after homogenization at 460℃ for 168 h and by a two-step homogenization process conducted at 460℃ for 24 h and 475℃ for 24 h （460℃/24 h ＋ 475℃/24 h） are in good accord with the calculated phase diagrams. It is concluded that the Al-8.59Zn-2.00Mg-2.44Cu alloy can be homogenized adequately under the 460℃/24 h ＋ 475℃/24 h treatment.