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Acta Metall Sin  2026, Vol. 62 Issue (3): 421-430    DOI: 10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00102
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Effect of Zr Content on Recrystallization Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Al-Mg-Si Cast-Rolled Sheet
SUN Yuchong, LIU Zhimin, XU Zhen(), TIAN Shuangyong, TIAN Shuang
College of Materials and Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Liaoning, Anshan 114051, China
Cite this article: 

SUN Yuchong, LIU Zhimin, XU Zhen, TIAN Shuangyong, TIAN Shuang. Effect of Zr Content on Recrystallization Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Al-Mg-Si Cast-Rolled Sheet. Acta Metall Sin, 2026, 62(3): 421-430.

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Abstract  

Twin roll casting is a short-process, high-energy-efficiency method for producing aluminum alloy sheets. During the forming process of cast-rolled aluminum alloy sheets, defects such as segregation, coarse secondary phases, and poor properties may occur owing to the quenching effect of the rolling mill rolls. Microalloying can effectively mitigate these defects and enhance the mechanical properties of aluminum alloy sheets produced by cast rolling. In the aluminum alloy twin roll casting process, regulating the recrystallization behavior and improving the microstructure by promoting or suppressing the particle-stimulated nucleation (PSN) effect is critical for producing high-quality cast-rolled sheets. This study prepared six Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled aluminum alloy sheets with varying Zr contents to investigate the evolution of their microstructure and properties, aiming to reveal the influence of Zr content on the recrystallization behavior and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled aluminum alloy sheets from the perspective of PSN. The results demonstrated that as the Zr content increased, the grain size initially increased, subsequently decreased, and then increased again. The Zr element was observed to combine with Al to form nano-sized Al3Zr precipitates with L12 structure. These precipitates effectively inhibited the recrystallization behavior associated with PSN in cast-rolled sheets and promoted grain fibrosis. Specifically, when the Zr content was 0.4% (mass fraction), the degree of grain fibrosis reached its maximum; however, with a Zr content of 0.6%, the inhibitory effect of Zr on grain recrystallization was reduced. At this concentration, the coarse D023-structured Al3Zr primary phase emerged, exacerbating the PSN effect and increasing the degree of recrystallization in the cast-rolled sheet. Furthermore, as the Zr content increased in the cast-rolled sheet, the size and volume fraction of the Fe-rich phase exhibited a trend of first increasing, then decreasing, and subsequently increasing again. Notably, when the Zr content was 0.3%, the comprehensive mechanical properties of the cast-rolled sheet were optimal. The tensile fracture surface exhibited ductile fracture characteristics, and the Fe-rich phase distribution in the sheet was dispersed. The tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation were measured to be 226.91 MPa, 104.81 MPa, and 15.05%, respectively.

Key words:  Zr      microalloying      twin roll casting      recrystallization     
Received:  08 April 2024     
ZTFLH:  TG292  
Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China(52104377)
Corresponding Authors:  XU Zhen, professor, Tel: 15904924772, E-mail: ustlxuzhen@ustl.edu.cn

URL: 

https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/10.11900/0412.1961.2024.00102     OR     https://www.ams.org.cn/EN/Y2026/V62/I3/421

AlloyMgSiFeCuCrTiZnMnZrAl
0Zr1.020.740.210.320.140.050.040.38 ± 0.030Bal.
0.1Zr1.030.720.200.330.150.040.030.42 ± 0.050.11 ± 0.03Bal.
0.2Zr1.030.720.230.290.160.040.050.45 ± 0.040.22 ± 0.02Bal.
0.3Zr1.010.740.220.300.140.040.050.41 ± 0.020.30 ± 0.04Bal.
0.4Zr1.020.730.210.310.130.050.040.39 ± 0.020.45 ± 0.05Bal.
0.6Zr1.010.730.220.330.150.040.030.43 ± 0.050.62 ± 0.04Bal.
Table 1  Chemical compositions of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents
Fig.1  Low (a1-f1) and high (a2-f2, a3-f3) magnified OM images of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents (ND—normal direction, RD—rolling direction. Figs.1a1-f1 and a2-f2 are polarization images, Figs.1a2-f2 and a3-f3 are locally enlarged images of rectangular zones in Figs.1a1-f1, respectively) (a1-a3) 0Zr (b1-b3) 0.1Zr (c1-c3) 0.2Zr (d1-d3) 0.3Zr (e1-e3) 0.4Zr (f1-f3) 0.6Zr
Fig.2  XRD patterns of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents
Fig.3  SEM images of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents (Black arrows represent Al0.3Fe3Si0.7 phases, white arrows represent Mg2Si phases, red arrows represent Al17Fe3.2Mn0.8Si2 phases. Insets in Figs.3a, c, and e represent EDS results of the areas marked by the white rectangles, inset in Fig.3d is the corresponding enlarged view)
(a) 0Zr (b) 0.1Zr (c) 0.2Zr (d) 0.3Zr (e) 0.4Zr (f) 0.6Zr
Fig.4  EBSD images (a, b) and TEM images (c-f) of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents (Red areas, blue areas, and yellow areas in Figs.4a and b represent deformation grain, recrystallization grain, and recovery grain, respectively. Insets in Figs.4d-f are the corresponding SAED patterns of the area marked by yellow rectangles) (a, d) 0Zr (b, c, e) 0.3Zr (f) 0.6Zr
Fig.5  Room temperature tensile properties (a) and statistical results of comprehensive mechanical properties (b) of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents (Inset in Fig.5a is the schematic of tensile sample, unit: mm)
Fig.6  SEM images showing the fracture morphologies of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents
(a) 0Zr (b) 0.1Zr (c) 0.2Zr (d) 0.3Zr (e) 0.4Zr (f) 0.6Zr
AlloyσGBσSSDσGNDσSSσ
0Zr11.735.05.324.8111.8
0.3Zr11.140.824.724.8136.4
0.6Zr11.545.337.724.8154.3
Table 2  Theoretical yield strengths of Al-Mg-Si cast-rolled sheets with different Zr contents
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