Deformation behavior and microstructural evolution of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy at cryogenic temperatures

The impact deformation behavior and associated microstructural evolution of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy at cryogenic temperatures are investigated using a compressive split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. Cylindrical specimens are deformed at strain rates of 1 × 103 s−1, 2 × 103 s−1, 3 × 103 s−1 and 5 × 103 s−1 and temperatures of 0 °C, −100 °C and −196 °C. It is shown that the flow stress is strongly dependent on the strain rate and temperature. For a given temperature, the flow stress varies with the strain rate in accordance with a power law relation with an average exponent of 0.157 and an activation energy of 0.7 kJ/mol. Moreover, the coupled effects of the strain rate and temperature on the flow stress are adequately described by the Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z). For all test temperatures, catastrophic failure occurs only under the highest strain rate of 5 × 103 s−1, and is the result of adiabatic shear. An increasing strain rate or reducing temperature leads to a greater dislocation density and a smaller grain size. Finally, the dependence of the flow stress on the microstructural properties of the impacted 7075-T6 specimens is well described by a specific Hall-Petch constitutive model with constants of K = 108.3 MPa μm1/2 and K′ = 16.1 MPa μm, respectively. Overall, the results presented in this study provide a useful insight into the combined effects of strain rate and temperature on the flow resistance and deformability of 7075-T6 alloy and confirm that 7075-T6 is well suited to the fabrication of fuel tanks and related structural components in the aerospace field.