Formation of precipitates and recrystallization resistance in Al-Sc-Zr alloys

Al-x%Sc-0.11%Zr alloys (x=0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.08, 0.11, 0.15) were produced by a chill cast procedure. The effect of Sc content on the precipitation of Al3(Sc,Zr) during heat treatment at 475 °C for 12 h was studied. Nucleation, precipitation and distribution of Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates were found to be strongly related to the Sc content. With increasing the Sc content, the average radius of the precipitates decreases, while the number density of the precipitates increases, as investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The distribution of the precipitates becomes more and more homogeneous when the Sc content is increased. The recrystallization resistance of samples that was 90% cold rolled and isothermal annealed for half an hour in the temperature range of 200-600 °C was investigated. The results show that the recrystallization temperature varies from 250 °C for the alloy without Sc to about 600 °C for the alloy containing 0.15% Sc because of the high density of Al3(Sc,Zr) precipitates.