Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy

An enhanced pre-aging (EPA) process for 6000 series aluminum alloy automotive sheets has been developed, utilizing a micro-alloying strategy combined with vacancy concentration control. This innovative approach enhances the paint bake (PB) response by up to 70 % without compromising other properties...

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Main Authors: Meng Liu, Xiulei Li, Jingwei Zhao, Zhenshan Liu, Ting Chen, Feng Qian, Xingzhong Cao, Qianning Guo, Zi Yang, John Banhart, Pizhi Zhao
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/S2238785425010129
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author Meng Liu
Xiulei Li
Jingwei Zhao
Zhenshan Liu
Ting Chen
Feng Qian
Xingzhong Cao
Qianning Guo
Zi Yang
John Banhart
Pizhi Zhao
author_facet Meng Liu
Xiulei Li
Jingwei Zhao
Zhenshan Liu
Ting Chen
Feng Qian
Xingzhong Cao
Qianning Guo
Zi Yang
John Banhart
Pizhi Zhao
author_sort Meng Liu
collection DOAJ
description An enhanced pre-aging (EPA) process for 6000 series aluminum alloy automotive sheets has been developed, utilizing a micro-alloying strategy combined with vacancy concentration control. This innovative approach enhances the paint bake (PB) response by up to 70 % without compromising other properties. Microstructural characterizations and analyses of aging precipitation were conducted using positron annihilation spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and vacancy kinetics simulations. The measurements reveal that Sn retains a high concentration of supersaturated quenched-in vacancies. During the short high-temperature spike aging (SA) treatment, these vacancies effectively promote nucleation and give rise to a favorable Mg/Si ratio within the clusters/nuclei. In the subsequent conventional pre-aging (PA), simultaneous growth of nuclei and formation of new PA clusters occur. During PB, excess vacancies trapped by Sn/Cu and some clusters are released. This release effectively promotes the transformation of clusters into β'' phase precipitates with a higher number density, smaller volume, and more dispersed distribution. This transformation substantially enhances the PB strength increment.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2238-7854
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Materials Research and Technology
spelling doaj-art-137761a6539945ea8b67a3fc6ded75fa2025-08-20T03:14:01ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-05-01366377638610.1016/j.jmrt.2025.04.191Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloyMeng Liu0Xiulei Li1Jingwei Zhao2Zhenshan Liu3Ting Chen4Feng Qian5Xingzhong Cao6Qianning Guo7Zi Yang8John Banhart9Pizhi Zhao10Chinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., 102209, Beijing, China; Chongqing National Innovation Institute of Light Alloys Co., Ltd., 400039, Chongqing, China; Corresponding author. Chinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., 102209, Beijing, China.Chinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., 102209, Beijing, China; Beijing University of Science and Technology, 100083, Beijing, ChinaChinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., 102209, Beijing, ChinaChinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., 102209, Beijing, ChinaChongqing National Innovation Institute of Light Alloys Co., Ltd., 400039, Chongqing, ChinaBeijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, ChinaThe Chinese Academy of Science, 100049, Beijing, ChinaHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109, Berlin, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109, Berlin, GermanyHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, 14109, Berlin, GermanyChinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., 102209, Beijing, China; Corresponding author.An enhanced pre-aging (EPA) process for 6000 series aluminum alloy automotive sheets has been developed, utilizing a micro-alloying strategy combined with vacancy concentration control. This innovative approach enhances the paint bake (PB) response by up to 70 % without compromising other properties. Microstructural characterizations and analyses of aging precipitation were conducted using positron annihilation spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and vacancy kinetics simulations. The measurements reveal that Sn retains a high concentration of supersaturated quenched-in vacancies. During the short high-temperature spike aging (SA) treatment, these vacancies effectively promote nucleation and give rise to a favorable Mg/Si ratio within the clusters/nuclei. In the subsequent conventional pre-aging (PA), simultaneous growth of nuclei and formation of new PA clusters occur. During PB, excess vacancies trapped by Sn/Cu and some clusters are released. This release effectively promotes the transformation of clusters into β'' phase precipitates with a higher number density, smaller volume, and more dispersed distribution. This transformation substantially enhances the PB strength increment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425010129Al–Mg–Si alloysVacancyMicro-alloyingEnhanced pre-agingPaint baking
spellingShingle Meng Liu
Xiulei Li
Jingwei Zhao
Zhenshan Liu
Ting Chen
Feng Qian
Xingzhong Cao
Qianning Guo
Zi Yang
John Banhart
Pizhi Zhao
Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Al–Mg–Si alloys
Vacancy
Micro-alloying
Enhanced pre-aging
Paint baking
title Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy
title_full Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy
title_fullStr Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy
title_full_unstemmed Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy
title_short Combined effect of micro-alloying and enhanced pre-aging on the paint-bake response of an AA 6014 alloy
title_sort combined effect of micro alloying and enhanced pre aging on the paint bake response of an aa 6014 alloy
topic Al–Mg–Si alloys
Vacancy
Micro-alloying
Enhanced pre-aging
Paint baking
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425010129
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