Effect of aging on the mechanical properties and corrosion susceptibility of an Al-Cu-Li-Zr alloy containing Sc

The effects of aging on the microstructure, mechanical properties, intergranular corrosion, and exfoliation corrosion of an Al-3.5Cu-1.5Li-0.22（Sc ＋ Zr） alloy have been investigated. The results show that the alloy has the character of age hardening, and the major phase of precipitation and strengthening is the T1 phase. The aging temperature and aging time have a significant effect on the amount and distribution of the T1 phase. The proper artificial single-aging treatment of the alloy is at 160℃ for 40 h. The intergranular corrosion and exfoliation corrosion of the alloy are caused by the anodic dissolution of the T1 phase and the precipitate-free zone （PFZ）. With increasing the aging time to overaged, the T1 phase coarsens, and the PFZ widens, leading to an increase in the susceptibility to intergranular corrosion and exfoliation corrosion.