Modelling microstructure evolution during casting, homogenization and ageing heat treatment of Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Fe-Mn alloys

Understanding microstructural evolution occupies one of the central positions in the discipline of materials science and engineering. In this review we summarize the recent research activities on modelling microstructure evolution during casting, homogenization and ageing heat treatment of Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Fe-Mn alloys. We focus mainly on our research efforts centred on computational thermodynamics, multi-component diffusion kinetic modelling and their experimental validations. We will demonstrate how the CALPHAD-coupled kinetic modelling approach, especially the Frequency Distribution Function (FDF) methods represented by KWN model and MHN model, helps in aluminium alloy design and processing parameter optimizations. It is anticipated that this review paper could provide a latest snapshot in the research front of microstructure modelling and promote the development of such modelling tools for aluminium industrial applications.