Influence of TiB2 nanoparticles on elevated-temperature properties of Al-Mn-Mg 3004 alloy

Two contents (1.5% and 3%) of TiB2 nanoparticles were introduced in Al-Mn-Mg 3004 alloy to study their effects on the elevated-temperature properties. Results show that TiB2 nanoparticles were mainly distributed at the interdendritic grain boundaries with a size range of 20-80 nm, which is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Therefore, the volume fraction of the dispersoid free zones is greatly reduced and the motion of grain boundaries and dislocations is inhibited more effectively at elevated temperature. After peak precipitation heat treatment, the yield strengths in the alloy with 3% TiB2 addition at room temperature and 300 °C were increased by 20% and 13% respectively, while the minimum creep rate at 300 °C was reduced to only 1/5 of the base alloy free of TiB2, exhibiting a considerable improvement of elevated-temperature properties in Al-Mn-Mg alloys.