Evaluation of hardness and precipitation in Zn-modified Al2024 alloy after plastic deformation and heat treatments

This paper reports changes in the hardness values and precipitation of the Al2024 alloy when it is modified with Zn addition (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 wt%) and plastic deformation (hot-50% and cold-5 and 15%). It is reported increases in the hardness values by Zn addition. Furthermore, a double hardening peak with bimodal distribution of precipitates associated with the continuous process of nucleation and growth of the S and S′ phases is observed.