Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment

The influence of Li content (0.25, 0.85 and 1.20 wt%) on the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys was systematically investigated under two aging conditions (direct aging at 175 °C and 3.5 % pre-stretching followed by aging at 155 °C). The alloys were studied through h...

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Main Authors: Pengcheng Chen, Xiwu Li, Kai Wen, Ying Li, Qilong Liu, Chenyang Xun, Wei Xiao, Bin Zhou, Lizhen Yan, Zhihui Li, Yongan Zhang, Baiqing Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425014188
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author Pengcheng Chen
Xiwu Li
Kai Wen
Ying Li
Qilong Liu
Chenyang Xun
Wei Xiao
Bin Zhou
Lizhen Yan
Zhihui Li
Yongan Zhang
Baiqing Xiong
author_facet Pengcheng Chen
Xiwu Li
Kai Wen
Ying Li
Qilong Liu
Chenyang Xun
Wei Xiao
Bin Zhou
Lizhen Yan
Zhihui Li
Yongan Zhang
Baiqing Xiong
author_sort Pengcheng Chen
collection DOAJ
description The influence of Li content (0.25, 0.85 and 1.20 wt%) on the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys was systematically investigated under two aging conditions (direct aging at 175 °C and 3.5 % pre-stretching followed by aging at 155 °C). The alloys were studied through hardness testing, tensile property evaluation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to establish correlations between microstructural evolution and mechanical performance. The results reveal that increasing Li content significantly enhances peak strength, with the most pronounced improvement under 155 °C aging after pre-deformation. While all alloys predominantly formed T1 and θ′ phases, the low-Li alloy (0.25 wt%) additionally exhibited Li-containing Ω phases precipitation. For the 0.25 wt% Li alloy, full strengthening potential from T1 and Ω phases was achieved during 175 °C/36 h aging, whereas 155 °C/36 h aging after pre-deformation increased θ′ phase contributions but reduced overall precipitation strengthening efficiency. At Li contents ≥0.85 wt%, higher Li concentration preferentially enhanced T1 nucleation while suppressing growth during 175 °C/36 h aging. Notably, pre-deformation combined with 155 °C/36 h aging in high-Li alloys (≥0.85 wt%) significantly increased T1 phase density with limited growth, triggering a transition from bypass to shearing-dominated strengthening mechanisms. Further increasing Li content to 1.20 wt% promoted T1 phase growth, resulting in substantial strength enhancement for the high-Li alloy. This work establishes critical relationships between Li content, aging processing and precipitation control strategies for optimizing Al–Cu–Li alloy performance.
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spelling doaj-art-0e4b96fd218a414380d290b85fbb80c22025-08-20T02:02:17ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-05-0136104251043910.1016/j.jmrt.2025.05.262Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatmentPengcheng Chen0Xiwu Li1Kai Wen2Ying Li3Qilong Liu4Chenyang Xun5Wei Xiao6Bin Zhou7Lizhen Yan8Zhihui Li9Yongan Zhang10Baiqing Xiong11State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China.State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China.State Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., LTD., Beijing, 101407, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Nonferrous Structural Materials, China GRINM Group Co., LTD., Beijing, 100088, China; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing, 100088, ChinaThe influence of Li content (0.25, 0.85 and 1.20 wt%) on the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys was systematically investigated under two aging conditions (direct aging at 175 °C and 3.5 % pre-stretching followed by aging at 155 °C). The alloys were studied through hardness testing, tensile property evaluation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to establish correlations between microstructural evolution and mechanical performance. The results reveal that increasing Li content significantly enhances peak strength, with the most pronounced improvement under 155 °C aging after pre-deformation. While all alloys predominantly formed T1 and θ′ phases, the low-Li alloy (0.25 wt%) additionally exhibited Li-containing Ω phases precipitation. For the 0.25 wt% Li alloy, full strengthening potential from T1 and Ω phases was achieved during 175 °C/36 h aging, whereas 155 °C/36 h aging after pre-deformation increased θ′ phase contributions but reduced overall precipitation strengthening efficiency. At Li contents ≥0.85 wt%, higher Li concentration preferentially enhanced T1 nucleation while suppressing growth during 175 °C/36 h aging. Notably, pre-deformation combined with 155 °C/36 h aging in high-Li alloys (≥0.85 wt%) significantly increased T1 phase density with limited growth, triggering a transition from bypass to shearing-dominated strengthening mechanisms. Further increasing Li content to 1.20 wt% promoted T1 phase growth, resulting in substantial strength enhancement for the high-Li alloy. This work establishes critical relationships between Li content, aging processing and precipitation control strategies for optimizing Al–Cu–Li alloy performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425014188Al–Cu–Li alloysLi contentPrecipitation behaviorAging treatment
spellingShingle Pengcheng Chen
Xiwu Li
Kai Wen
Ying Li
Qilong Liu
Chenyang Xun
Wei Xiao
Bin Zhou
Lizhen Yan
Zhihui Li
Yongan Zhang
Baiqing Xiong
Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Al–Cu–Li alloys
Li content
Precipitation behavior
Aging treatment
title Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment
title_full Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment
title_fullStr Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment
title_short Effect of Li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al–Cu–Li alloys under aging treatment
title_sort effect of li content on precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of al cu li alloys under aging treatment
topic Al–Cu–Li alloys
Li content
Precipitation behavior
Aging treatment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425014188
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