Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods
This study evaluates the effectiveness of these conventional heating methods, commonly adopted in the industry with long durations (typically one hour), in comparison to newer, potentially more efficient approaches such as induction coil heating, infrared module heating, and infrared furnaces that c...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/9/1/2 |
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| author | Hao Wu Zisong Lu Steven Hill Richard Turner |
| author_facet | Hao Wu Zisong Lu Steven Hill Richard Turner |
| author_sort | Hao Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluates the effectiveness of these conventional heating methods, commonly adopted in the industry with long durations (typically one hour), in comparison to newer, potentially more efficient approaches such as induction coil heating, infrared module heating, and infrared furnaces that can perform solution heat treatment in significantly shorter times (5 to 20 min). The properties of the edge and centre regions of the solution-treated billets, including the state of precipitates, grain structures, and Vickers hardness, are investigated and compared. Results have shown that the 7075 billets heated by conventional heating methods sufficiently dissolved the stable precipitates, achieving hardness ranging from 137 to 141 HV, in contrast to the benchmark unheated, as-received sample of approximately 70 HV. In the meantime, the induction coil and infrared furnace demonstrate notable effectiveness, achieving hardness between 126 and 135 HV. The average grain sizes in the centre and edge regions for all samples are measured as 3 and 8 µm, respectively. However, the impact of the grain size on the hardness is negligible compared to the impact of the precipitates. Finite element (FE) modelling comparing the slowest heating method—the electric furnace—and the fastest heating method—induction coil heating—reveals the latter could heat the billet up to 450 °C at a rate ten times faster than the electric furnace. This study highlights the potential of novel heating techniques in promoting the efficiency of heat treatment processes for 7075 aluminium alloys. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-193925ca39a440f5b23b0821f5bae90f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-4494 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
| spelling | doaj-art-193925ca39a440f5b23b0821f5bae90f2025-01-24T13:36:24ZengMDPI AGJournal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing2504-44942024-12-0191210.3390/jmmp9010002Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating MethodsHao Wu0Zisong Lu1Steven Hill2Richard Turner3Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2DB, UKSchool of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKW.H. Tildesley Ltd., Willenhall WV13 2AN, UKSchool of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKThis study evaluates the effectiveness of these conventional heating methods, commonly adopted in the industry with long durations (typically one hour), in comparison to newer, potentially more efficient approaches such as induction coil heating, infrared module heating, and infrared furnaces that can perform solution heat treatment in significantly shorter times (5 to 20 min). The properties of the edge and centre regions of the solution-treated billets, including the state of precipitates, grain structures, and Vickers hardness, are investigated and compared. Results have shown that the 7075 billets heated by conventional heating methods sufficiently dissolved the stable precipitates, achieving hardness ranging from 137 to 141 HV, in contrast to the benchmark unheated, as-received sample of approximately 70 HV. In the meantime, the induction coil and infrared furnace demonstrate notable effectiveness, achieving hardness between 126 and 135 HV. The average grain sizes in the centre and edge regions for all samples are measured as 3 and 8 µm, respectively. However, the impact of the grain size on the hardness is negligible compared to the impact of the precipitates. Finite element (FE) modelling comparing the slowest heating method—the electric furnace—and the fastest heating method—induction coil heating—reveals the latter could heat the billet up to 450 °C at a rate ten times faster than the electric furnace. This study highlights the potential of novel heating techniques in promoting the efficiency of heat treatment processes for 7075 aluminium alloys.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/9/1/27075 alloyssolution heat treatmentmicrostructurefinite element modelling |
| spellingShingle | Hao Wu Zisong Lu Steven Hill Richard Turner Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing 7075 alloys solution heat treatment microstructure finite element modelling |
| title | Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods |
| title_full | Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods |
| title_fullStr | Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods |
| title_short | Microstructure Characterisation and Modelling of Pre-Forging Solution Treatment of 7075 Aluminium Alloy Using Novel Heating Methods |
| title_sort | microstructure characterisation and modelling of pre forging solution treatment of 7075 aluminium alloy using novel heating methods |
| topic | 7075 alloys solution heat treatment microstructure finite element modelling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/9/1/2 |
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