Improvement of the mechanical properties of 7xxx-aluminum alloys due to the systematical design of the microstructure

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Walter Reimers
• Subject Area: Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials and their Microstructural Origins
• Term: from 2012 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 225648152

The investigations of the first funding period show that it is possible to enhance the strength properties and the ductility of the 7xxx alloys simultaneously. This enhancements are possible due to a combination of selected extrusion processes and targeted artificial aging. Within this proposal further investigations will be carried out concerning the cold deformation and the fracture behavior, to get detailed information about the failure mechanisms of the 7xxx-alloys (7020, 7021.50 and 7175). Furthermore hollow profiles will be extruded which show different structural morphologies due to geometrical recrystallization. Therefore the influence of the geometrical recrystallization on the mechanical properties, the cold deformation and the fracture behavior will be analysed to win a fundamental knowledge about the material behavior of the 7xxx-alloys.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants