Ageing response of a Al–Cu–Li 2198 alloy

• The effects of ageing temperatures on properties of 2198 alloy were investigated.
• The results exhibit a very strong ageing response of 2198 alloy when T8 treated.
• Microstructures vary in different ageing states of 2198 alloy.

The effects of different ageing treatments on microstructure evolution, properties and fracture are investigated in the present study. 2198 alloy exhibits strong ageing response during ageing. It is found that tensile properties, hardness and conductivity of 2198 alloy are very sensitive to ageing temperatures, which corresponds to different microstructures. In the naturally-aged condition (T3), only δ′ (Al3Li) was detected. After artificial ageing (T8), large amounts of precipitates emerged and major precipitates that were detected turned to be δ′, θ′ (Al2Cu) and T1 (Al2CuLi) phase. Exposure to higher temperature caused greater amounts of the precipitation. The constitution and morphology of precipitates varies with different ageing temperature; the major precipitates are δ′, θ′ when ageing below 160 °C, while above 160 °C, T1 phase comes out in large numbers, becoming dominate strengthening phases gradually. Fracture transforms from a typical dimple type to a dimple-intergranular mixed type with the rise of ageing temperature.