Effect of initial temper on mechanical properties of creep-aged Al-Cu-Li alloy AA2050

Abstract

The evolution of mechanical properties of a third generation Al-Cu-Li alloy, AA2050, with different initial tempers (T34 and as-quenched (WQ)) during creep-ageing has been investigated and analysed in this study. A set of creep-ageing tests under 150 MPa at 155 °C for up to 24 h was carried out for both initial temper conditions and tensile tests were performed subsequently to acquire the main mechanical properties of the creep-aged alloys, including the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and uniform elongation. Precipitation behaviour of the T34 and WQ AA2050 alloys has been summarised and successfully explains the detailed evolutions of the obtained mechanical properties of the alloy with these two initial tempers during creep-ageing. The results indicate that the T34 alloy can be a better choice for creep age forming (CAF) process compared with WQ alloy, as it provides better yield strength and uniform elongation properties concurrently after creep-ageing. In addition, a work hardening rate analysis has been carried out for all the creep-aged alloys, helping to reveal the detailed dislocation/precipitates interaction mechanisms during plastic deformation in the creep-aged T34 and WQ AA2050 alloys.