Effect of Decreasing Homogenization Temperature on Microstructure and Properties of 2024-T3 Alloy

Abstract:

The effect of decreasing the homogenization temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 2024-T3 alloy was investigated. The results show that the area fractions of the residual coarse secondary phases of alloys after homogenization at 430 or 460 ℃ for 24 h followed by rolling are similar, and they are higher than those of the alloys homogenized at 490 ℃ for 24 h. The latter treatment is routinely used in the industry. The alloys with homogenization of 430 ℃/24 h or 460 ℃/24 h and solution treatment have higher recrystallization fractions and finer grain sizes due to the particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) effect of the coarse secondary phase. Hardness tests and tensile tests show that the peak hardness, tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of the three alloys are relatively similar to each other. Therefore, appropriately decreasing the homogenization temperature can improve the uniformity of grain size, reduce the cost, and maintain the excellent tensile properties of 2024-T3 plates. Whereas the high-temperature homogenization of 490 ℃/24 h can make the 2024-T3 sheet have relatively good plasticity and toughness.