Composition Optimization of Al-Mg-Mn Alloys for Continuous Casting-Direct Rolling and Influence of Er and Zr on Their Microstructure and Mechanical Properties.

In order to develop the aluminum sheets suitable for the twin-belt continuous casting and direct rolling, the composition optimization of Al-Mg-Mn alloys evolved from AA5052 (Al-2.5 Mg) alloy was firstly carried out via the synergy between the PANDAT software and the micro–hardness test. Subsequently, the influence of Er and Zr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the optimized Al-Mg-Mn sheet (Al-1.5 Mg-0.8Mn) was investigated in this work. The results showed that the tensile properties of Al-1.5 Mg-0.8Mn sheets processed by the rolling and the subsequent annealing were improved by the co-addition of the Zr and Er. The optimized tensile properties (UTS: 320.5 MPa; YS: 231.6 MPa; E.L.: 6.75%) were achieved in Al-1.5 Mg-0.8Mn sheets modified by 0.2 wt.% Zr and 0.3 wt.% Er, which is attributed to the finest fibrous grains, the fine, homogeneously distributed residual Al₆Mn, Al₃Zr and Al₃(Zr, Er) second phases and more nano-sized Al₃(Zr, Er) precipitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]