Dynamic precipitation during cyclic deformation of an underaged Al-Cu alloy

The cyclic deformation behavior of Al-4Cu alloy containing shear-resistant particles was investigated systematically as a function of precipitate state. Pronounced cyclic hardening was observed in the under aged Al-4Cu-0.05Sn (wt.%) alloy strained under various imposed plastic strain amplitudes at room temperature. Such cyclic hardening is absent from the longer aging treatments. Microstructural characterization reveals that the pronounced cyclic hardening of the under aged alloy is due to the dynamic precipitation of GP zones. The dynamic precipitation occurs during all the cyclic loading process and only at the peak stress, where the hardening increment from dynamic precipitation saturates, does strain localization occur which is soon followed by failure of the material. The dynamic precipitation of GP zones has a positive effect on the low cycle fatigue performance of this alloy, and can significantly elevate the strength of this alloy without loss in ductility. Experiments performed to test the dependence of the cyclic hardening on plastic strain amplitude and strain-rate illustrate a relatively strain-rate independent and strain amplitude dependent behavior. Such kinetic behavior is approximately consistent with that expected if the GP zone formation is controlled by the vacancies production process during plastic deformation. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.