Abstract:A series of Al-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg based alloys with and without Sc, Zr were prepared by ingot metallurgy. The mechanical properties and microstructures of the studied alloys under different treatment conditions were studied. In addition, the existing form and acting mechanism of minor Sc and Zr in Al-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg based alloys were analyzed and discussed. The following conclusions can be drawn. First, adding of minor Sc and Zr to those alloys can increase the strength of Al-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg based alloys by 25%, while the ductility can remain in 15% and 8%, respectively. Second, in Al-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg based alloys, minor Sc and Zr mainly exist in two forms of aluminides containing Sc and Zr, one is Al₃(Sc,Zr)_Ⅰ precipitated from the melt during solidification, the other is Al₃(Sc,Zr)_Ⅱ precipitated during homogenization. The former is the most effective grain refiner for α(Al) solid solution matrix, and the latter is coherent with the matrix and can strongly pin dislocations and subboundaries, which can effectively restrain recrystallization of the alloys during hot deformation, annealing and solid solution. Third, strengthening caused by adding minor Sc and Zr to the studied alloys is mainly due to fine-grain strengthening, precipitation strengthening and substructure strengthening of Al₃(Sc, Zr) caused by restraining recrystallization.

Key words:  Sc; Zr; aluminum alloy; microstructures; mechanical properties