Effect of ultrasonic vibration during casting on microstructures and properties of 7050 aluminum alloy

The microstructures and properties of ultrasonic and conventional cast 7050 aluminum alloys have been studied. Compared with the conventional cast alloy, the ultrasonic cast ingot (UI) is characterized with a finer microstructure than that in the conventional cast ingot (CI). For the hot-rolled plates, the UI alloy can be aged faster and aging-strengthened easier than the CI alloy. When aged at 120 A degrees C, the UI alloy reaches its peak strength after 8 h, with tensile strength of 602 MPa, yield strength of 547 MPa and elongation of 12.7%, respectively, whereas the CI alloy plate is with its tensile strength, yield strength and elongation of 536 MPa, 462 MPa and 15.0%, respectively, after peak aged for 12 h.