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for Sc and Zr Containing Al-Mg-Si Alloys

Materials Science and Engineering Seminar

Dr. Steven Babaniaris

Institute for Frontier Materials
Deakin University
Waurn Ponds, Australia

Abstract: Light-weighting of vehicles drives the development of Aluminium alloys with improved strength, processablity and formability. An opportunity to achieve these goal is using Scandium (Sc). The beneficial effects from Sc comes from the formation of nano-sized Al₃Sc dispersoids. Detrimental interactions between Sc and Silicon (Si), coupled with the high price of Sc has limited the research and uptake of Sc in 6xxx alloys. The first step towards developing Sc containing 6xxx-series is to understand the as-cast microstructure and the effect of subsequent heat treatment on the dispersoids and precipitates.

This work uses isochronal ageing trials on a series of Al-Mg-Si-(Sc)-(Zr) model alloys. The evolution of hardness and conductivity is recorded to indirectly characterise the precipitate sequence in these alloys. TEM, APT and DSC are also used to further characterise the morphology and kinetics of MgSi precipitates and Sc/Zr dispersoids. The precipitation of Sc was altered by the presence of Si, and hence it is concluded that a non-traditional homogenisation treatment will be required for these alloys.

Bio: Dr Babaniaris recently completed his PhD at the Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Deakin University under the supervision of Prof. Matthew Barnett and Dr Aiden Beer. His PhD thesis focused on understanding the microstructural and optical origins of thermomechanical streaking defects, a known issue in the production of anodized architectural aluminium extrusions.

Dr Babaniaris now works as a postdoctoral research fellow at the IFM where manages and operates Deskins 300 ton research dedicated extrusion facility. His current research focus is on the development and processing of advanced age hardenable aluminium extrusion alloys containing scandium.