Heat-treatment of 2014 aluminium alloy forgings with intense strain

The triangular 2014 aluminium alloy forgings with intense strain were made by a verity of heat-treatment processes, and their mechanical properties were measured. The results show that different solution and aging processes have very strong influence on the mechanical properties of the forgings. The forgings with intense strain from multidirectional deformation (deformation coefficient λ=12), which were solved at 500°C for 400 min and aged at 165°C for 10 h, show advanced mechanical properties, and almost no anisotropic. The mechanical properties are σ2433 MPa, σ=454 MPa, δ=10.5% along LD; σb=457 MPa, σ0.2=444 MPa, δ=6.3% along TD; σb=449 MPa, σ0.2=433 MPa, δ=4.2% along HD. The yield strength of the forgings made by a new process was improved by 30% to 50%, the ultimate tensile strength by 15% to 30% and elongation by 100% to 200%, if compared with the mechanical properties of the forgings made by the traditional process. The investigation indicates that the very fine grains (3-6μm) and the sub-microphases (0.05-0.15μm), and their homogeneous distribution have made the forgings have the high mechanical properties.