Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties in ZK60 alloy sheet

The sheet of ZK60 alloy with a thickness of 1mm was prepared from a casting ingot followed by homogenization and warm-rolling. Variations in microstructure and mechanical properties of ZK60 alloy sheets were investigated during T6 treatment. Especially artificial aging after solution heat treatment affected both precipitates distribution and mechanical properties with aging treatment. Variations of mechanical properties were related to precipitates, i.e. rod-shaped (beta(1)') or disc shaped (beta(2)') particles. Around the peak of hardness values, regularly distributed rod-shaped (beta(1)') precipitates were found. The rod-shaped (beta(1)') precipitates were oriented with a growth direction of [0001]. When over-aged, rod-shaped (beta(1)') precipitates were expected to decrease and the density of disc-shaped (beta(2)') precipitates to change. The rod-shaped (beta(1)') precipitates mainly consist of {Mg, Zn), while disc-shaped (beta(2)') precipitates, {Mg, Zn, Zr} or {Mg, Zn}. In this study the optimum T6 treatment was determined as solution treatment at 430 T for 6 hours and subsequently aging treatment at 175 degrees C for 18 hours. At this T6 condition the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation are 321MPa, 280MPa and 16%, respectively.