Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process
The 7075 aluminum alloy has exceptional strength, but refining its microstructure and improving its mechanical properties presents considerable challenges. In this study, a hot radial forging process comprising preheating, multi-pass radial forging, and T6 heat treatment, was implemented on 7075 alu...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425014929 |
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| author | Chao Zhang Kun Li Shengdun Zhao Ming Chang Hong Jiang Yongfei Wang Yujian Ren Dawei Zhang |
| author_facet | Chao Zhang Kun Li Shengdun Zhao Ming Chang Hong Jiang Yongfei Wang Yujian Ren Dawei Zhang |
| author_sort | Chao Zhang |
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| description | The 7075 aluminum alloy has exceptional strength, but refining its microstructure and improving its mechanical properties presents considerable challenges. In this study, a hot radial forging process comprising preheating, multi-pass radial forging, and T6 heat treatment, was implemented on 7075 aluminum alloy rods. The microstructure evolution mechanisms in the edge and core regions of the workpieces were investigated through observations on the changes in grain morphology (grain boundary, size, and orientation) and second phase precipitation. The microhardness and tensile properties of the workpiece were assessed at varying cross-section reduction rates (CSRRs) during radial forging and distinct solution durations during T6 heat treatment. Results demonstrate that preheating considerably enhances the plasticity of the workpiece. During multi-pass radial forging, the key mechanisms of refining microstructure are geometrical dynamic recrystallization and continuous dynamic recrystallization induced by the radial compression of grains and interweaving between adjacent grains. The implementation of T6 heat treatment on the radial forged workpiece facilitates the formation of continuous equiaxed subgrains, the proliferation of fine recrystallized grains and the uniform precipitation of η′ phase. Radial forging combined with T6 heat treatment considerably strengthens the edge region of the workpiece (↑6.7 % in ultimate tensile strength [UTS], ↑33.3 % in elongation) at 30.6 % CSRR, and improves the overall mechanical performance of the workpiece (Edge: ↑5.7 % in UTS, ↑32.3 % in elongation; Core: ↑4.9 % in UTS, ↑40.4 % in elongation) at 55.6 % CSRR. This study may provide an expeditious and flexible manufacturing process for multi-step 7075 aluminum alloy shafts that withstand high loads in lightweighting applications. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b3ff23e5c444ca997275a5fb2fc21842025-08-20T02:09:52ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-07-01371276129610.1016/j.jmrt.2025.06.070Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging processChao Zhang0Kun Li1Shengdun Zhao2Ming Chang3Hong Jiang4Yongfei Wang5Yujian Ren6Dawei Zhang7School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; State Key Laboratory of Metal Forming Technology and Heavy Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; State Key Laboratory of Metal Forming Technology and Heavy Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; Corresponding author. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No 28, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, 710049, Shaanxi, China.School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; State Key Laboratory of Metal Forming Technology and Heavy Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; State Key Laboratory of Metal Forming Technology and Heavy Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; State Key Laboratory of Metal Forming Technology and Heavy Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China; Corresponding author. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No 28, Xianning West Road, Xi'an, 710049, Shaanxi, China.The 7075 aluminum alloy has exceptional strength, but refining its microstructure and improving its mechanical properties presents considerable challenges. In this study, a hot radial forging process comprising preheating, multi-pass radial forging, and T6 heat treatment, was implemented on 7075 aluminum alloy rods. The microstructure evolution mechanisms in the edge and core regions of the workpieces were investigated through observations on the changes in grain morphology (grain boundary, size, and orientation) and second phase precipitation. The microhardness and tensile properties of the workpiece were assessed at varying cross-section reduction rates (CSRRs) during radial forging and distinct solution durations during T6 heat treatment. Results demonstrate that preheating considerably enhances the plasticity of the workpiece. During multi-pass radial forging, the key mechanisms of refining microstructure are geometrical dynamic recrystallization and continuous dynamic recrystallization induced by the radial compression of grains and interweaving between adjacent grains. The implementation of T6 heat treatment on the radial forged workpiece facilitates the formation of continuous equiaxed subgrains, the proliferation of fine recrystallized grains and the uniform precipitation of η′ phase. Radial forging combined with T6 heat treatment considerably strengthens the edge region of the workpiece (↑6.7 % in ultimate tensile strength [UTS], ↑33.3 % in elongation) at 30.6 % CSRR, and improves the overall mechanical performance of the workpiece (Edge: ↑5.7 % in UTS, ↑32.3 % in elongation; Core: ↑4.9 % in UTS, ↑40.4 % in elongation) at 55.6 % CSRR. This study may provide an expeditious and flexible manufacturing process for multi-step 7075 aluminum alloy shafts that withstand high loads in lightweighting applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S22387854250149297075 aluminum alloyMicrostructure evolutionHot radial forgingT6 heat treatmentMechanical property |
| spellingShingle | Chao Zhang Kun Li Shengdun Zhao Ming Chang Hong Jiang Yongfei Wang Yujian Ren Dawei Zhang Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process Journal of Materials Research and Technology 7075 aluminum alloy Microstructure evolution Hot radial forging T6 heat treatment Mechanical property |
| title | Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process |
| title_full | Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process |
| title_fullStr | Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process |
| title_short | Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high-strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi-pass hot radial forging process |
| title_sort | microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of high strength 7075 aluminum alloy during multi pass hot radial forging process |
| topic | 7075 aluminum alloy Microstructure evolution Hot radial forging T6 heat treatment Mechanical property |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425014929 |
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