Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios

In this work, the effects of Sc addition and variations in the Cu/Li ratio on the microstructure, precipitation behavior, laser welding performance, and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Li alloys were systematically investigated. The results show that the addition of Sc refines as-cast grains, transfo...

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Main Authors: Changlin Li, Xiwu Li, Yongan Zhang, Kai Wen, Lizhen Yan, Ying Li, Yanan Li, Mingyang Yu, Guanjun Gao, Hongwei Yan, Zhihui Li, Baiqing Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007051
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author Changlin Li
Xiwu Li
Yongan Zhang
Kai Wen
Lizhen Yan
Ying Li
Yanan Li
Mingyang Yu
Guanjun Gao
Hongwei Yan
Zhihui Li
Baiqing Xiong
author_facet Changlin Li
Xiwu Li
Yongan Zhang
Kai Wen
Lizhen Yan
Ying Li
Yanan Li
Mingyang Yu
Guanjun Gao
Hongwei Yan
Zhihui Li
Baiqing Xiong
author_sort Changlin Li
collection DOAJ
description In this work, the effects of Sc addition and variations in the Cu/Li ratio on the microstructure, precipitation behavior, laser welding performance, and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Li alloys were systematically investigated. The results show that the addition of Sc refines as-cast grains, transforming coarse columnar grains into fine equiaxed grains. In high Cu/Li ratio alloys, the addition of Sc leads to the formation of the W (AlCuSc) phase. Reducing the Cu/Li ratio alters the solidification sequence, favoring early precipitation of the Al2CuLi phase and inhibiting W phase formation. The addition of the Sc significantly increases the elongation, while the introduced W phase does not cause a significant decrease in the strength of the T8-aged alloy. A lower Cu/Li ratio reduces the T1 phase volume fraction, but the high density of δ′/GPI/δ′ composite phases compensates for the strength loss from T1 phase. The addition of the Sc element significantly refines the grain size of the welded joints and suppresses solidification and liquation cracks. Simultaneously, a large number of Al3(Sc, Zr) particles precipitate in the HAZ, enhancing the strength of the joints and reducing softening in this zone. The medium Cu/Li ratio alloy exhibits excellent overall mechanical properties and welding performance.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0264-1275
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-4254b8fd1f02433097137c31abaec8fb2025-08-20T03:47:19ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-08-0125611428510.1016/j.matdes.2025.114285Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratiosChanglin Li0Xiwu Li1Yongan Zhang2Kai Wen3Lizhen Yan4Ying Li5Yanan Li6Mingyang Yu7Guanjun Gao8Hongwei Yan9Zhihui Li10Baiqing 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 authors at: 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 authors at: 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; 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; General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing 100088, ChinaIn this work, the effects of Sc addition and variations in the Cu/Li ratio on the microstructure, precipitation behavior, laser welding performance, and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Li alloys were systematically investigated. The results show that the addition of Sc refines as-cast grains, transforming coarse columnar grains into fine equiaxed grains. In high Cu/Li ratio alloys, the addition of Sc leads to the formation of the W (AlCuSc) phase. Reducing the Cu/Li ratio alters the solidification sequence, favoring early precipitation of the Al2CuLi phase and inhibiting W phase formation. The addition of the Sc significantly increases the elongation, while the introduced W phase does not cause a significant decrease in the strength of the T8-aged alloy. A lower Cu/Li ratio reduces the T1 phase volume fraction, but the high density of δ′/GPI/δ′ composite phases compensates for the strength loss from T1 phase. The addition of the Sc element significantly refines the grain size of the welded joints and suppresses solidification and liquation cracks. Simultaneously, a large number of Al3(Sc, Zr) particles precipitate in the HAZ, enhancing the strength of the joints and reducing softening in this zone. The medium Cu/Li ratio alloy exhibits excellent overall mechanical properties and welding performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007051Al-Cu-Li alloySc elementMicrostructureMechanical propertyLaser welding performance
spellingShingle Changlin Li
Xiwu Li
Yongan Zhang
Kai Wen
Lizhen Yan
Ying Li
Yanan Li
Mingyang Yu
Guanjun Gao
Hongwei Yan
Zhihui Li
Baiqing Xiong
Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios
Materials & Design
Al-Cu-Li alloy
Sc element
Microstructure
Mechanical property
Laser welding performance
title Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios
title_full Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios
title_fullStr Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios
title_full_unstemmed Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios
title_short Achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding Sc to T8-aged Al-Cu-Li alloys with different Cu/Li ratios
title_sort achieving high strength and good laser welding performance by adding sc to t8 aged al cu li alloys with different cu li ratios
topic Al-Cu-Li alloy
Sc element
Microstructure
Mechanical property
Laser welding performance
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007051
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