Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Study of the Effect of Melting and Casting

Temperature and Heat Treatment on the
Mechanical Properties of Aluminum 7075
Aenas laith ali
Department of Physiology, Hammurabi College of Medicine, University of
Babylon ,Iraq

Qabas Khalid Naji Kalthoum Obaid Ali

College of Materials Engineering, University of College of Materials Engineering, University of
Babylon, Iraq Babylon, Iraq

Abstract:- Series xxx7 alloys are produced from  xxx4 aluminum alloy - silicon
aluminum alloys by adding mainly zinc, Zn, magnesium,  xxx5 aluminum-magnesium alloy
Mg, copper, and Cu to aluminum. They have high  xxx6 aluminum-magnesium-silicon alloy
mechanical properties that distinguish them from other  xxx7 aluminum-zinc alloy
aluminum alloys. In this research, the effect of adding  xxx8 Aluminum alloys – other elements
different percentages of nickel [1 0.5, 0.1,] %Wt., and
different heat treatments, namely the 6T artificial aging Each of these series is characterized by a characteristic
treatment, and the reflux treatment, usually aging and that distinguishes it from the rest of the series, such as the
RRA, on the tensile properties, Vickers hardness, and excellent electrical conductivity enjoyed by the first series
microstructure of aluminum alloy 7075 was studied. alloys 1,xxx, which is why they are used in electrical
Habit of aging. It has been shown that the reflux and applications. The resistance is very high, such as the xxx2
RRA treatment gives better results than the 6T artificial and xxx.7 series alloys, which are widely used in the
aging treatment, and the adding of nickel in general has manufacture of aircraft parts and components. The xxx3
led to a softer crystalline structure of the studied alloy series has the ability to form and conduct heat, and is used in
and higher values of Vickers hardness and tensile the manufacture of soft drink cans and heat exchangers.
properties of the alloy. xxx5 successions alloys have excellent corrosion resistance,
so they are used in shipbuilding; As for the xxx6 series
Keywords:- 7075 Aluminum, Strength , Hardness , alloys, they have excellent ability to be extruded, so various
Microstructure. products [2] with different sections are made from them by
extrusion.
I. INTRODUCTION
Aluminum is usually subject to heat treatment for
Aluminum metal is distributed in the rocks of the Earth artificial aging treatments to improve its mechanical
at a rate greater than that of all other metals. It represents properties and change the crystalline structure. Aging begins
about 8% of the Earth’s crust. Aluminum is a silvery-white with solution heat treatment at high temperatures to ensure
metal with a very light weight. Its specific gravity is 2.7 the dissolution of all elements in the basic aluminum phase,
cm/gr 3, which is equivalent to one third of the specific and then sudden cooling to room temperature (quenching),
weight of steel. It is a conductor. It is good for heat and to reach The saturated solid solution, where precipitated
electricity, as its conductivity is two-thirds of that of copper. elements are formed later during the heat treatment by
However, it is a low hardness metal that does not exceed 40 aging. Aging in aluminum alloys begins with the formation
HB and 2, and its tensile strength does not exceed 90 mm/N. of GP (Preston – Guinier) areas, which are solutions rich in
Therefore, most of the applications and fields in which we dissolved atoms spread in cohesive knots, which cause
use aluminum are in alloy form, adding that the alloy distortion in the crystalline structure. These The nodes resist
elements are The main alloys that are added to aluminum the movement of dislocations, which leads to an increase in
are: magnesium Mg, copper Cu, manganese Mn, zinc Zn, the strength of the metal. For example, the strength of the
silicon Si and, and we obtain by adding these elements For xxx7 series alloys increases due to the deposition of the
aluminum on basic aluminum alloys, which Numbered by 2MgZn stage in clusters, which forms a second phase [3]
the Aluminum Association [1] as follows within the basic aluminum solution α. The properties of
aluminum alloys can also be improved by... By adding some
 xxx1 Pure aluminum (99.0% or more pure) other alloying elements, for example, boron B improves the
 xxx2 aluminum alloy - copper electrical conductivity of aluminum alloys used in electrical
 xxx3 aluminum-manganese alloy applications, but it increases the difficulty of working the

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Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
alloy due to its formation of borides, while cadmium (Cd), percentages of some alloying elements, 112 Fouad Dhahiyah
lead (Pb), and tin (Sn) improve workability, and chromium et al. Researcher Guo Zhanying and his colleagues studied
(Cr) improves corrosion resistance. It increases sensitivity to the effect of zirconium content, Zr, in percentages [0.1, 0.05,
watering when present in high levels, and nickel (Ni) is used 0, 0.15],% and homogenization processing parameters.
with lead to enhance properties at high temperatures and Thermal impact on the grain size of the 7150 aluminum
reduce the coefficient of expansion. alloy. The two-stage homogenization resulted in a finer
grain size of the 7150 alloy [12] and a higher density of
Silver Ag contributes to hardening by precipitation and Zr3Al precipitates. As for the researcher Huang K.P and his
resistance to corrosion by stress cracking, tin (Sn) improves colleagues studied the effect of adding scandium at a rate of
friction resistance and is therefore used in the manufacture 0.4% and 0.45% on the hardness of the alloy Mg -3%Zn -
of bearings, and titanium (Ti) is used to soften the grains [4] 6%Al with the application of artificial aging treatment for
of cast aluminum castings. The xxx7 series alloys are different periods of time and temperatures. They obtained
considered one of the most important aluminum alloys. the highest result when aging at a temperature of 120°C for
They contain zinc as the main element, in addition to a period of time. 16 hours and a percentage of scandium [14]
magnesium and copper (Zn-Al Cu-Mg), as the addition of of 0.45%. As for the researcher Shiva. Ch. Krishna, he
these elements leads to good properties of these alloys. added nickel to aluminum alloy 7075 at weight percentages
Many researchers have studied the properties of the xxx7 of nickel of 0.35 -2.3 wt%, and he studied the effect of this
series alloys due to their distinctive properties that are addition on the tensile, hardness, and impact properties of
suitable for a large number of applications, especially the alloy without studying the effect of heat treatments. This
applications in the aerospace and aerospace industries. The alloy contains different percentages of nickel [15]. In this
high-strength xxx7 series alloys have excellent properties, research, nickel was added in different percentages [1 0.5,
especially after applying heat treatments to them, such as 0.1, wt%] to the 7075 aluminum alloy, and the effect of 6T
high tensile strength, light weight, and workability. and RRA heat treatments on the microstructure, Vickers
Excellent formability and acceptable corrosion resistance, hardness, and properties was studied. Tensile strength of
and one of the most important of these heat treatments is the aluminum alloy 7075 containing the mentioned percentages
“Return Aging (RRA) treatment”, which results in better of nickel
mechanical properties and corrosion resistance than the
traditional 6T artificial aging treatment. This has been II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
shown [5] by researcher Viana The researcher A.F. Oliveira
and his colleagues [6] and his colleagues studied the effect Alloy 7075, the subject of the research, was received in
of 6T, 7T and RRA heat treatments on the structure of the the form of a billet with a thickness of 12 cm. Table 1 shows
7050, 7150 and 7075 alloys, their hardness, tensile strength the chemical composition of the aluminum-zinc-
and resistance to corrosion by stress cracking (SCC), and magnesium-copper alloy 7075, and it shows the standard
they obtained the best results when applying the RRA composition of alloy 7075 according to the description of
treatment. The researcher Esmailian M and his colleagues the Aluminum Association [1], and the experimental
studied The effect of the return time [30-40-50 min] in the composition of this alloy after its analysis. Using a
RRA treatment on the tensile properties and hardness of Spectrolab spectroscopy device. The alloys to be tested in
alloy 7055. The RRA treatment resulted in better tensile this research were prepared by weighing pieces of aluminum
properties than the 6T treatment. Increasing the return time alloy 7075 and then calculating the corresponding amount of
led to an increase in both the grain size and the precipitation nickel powder (purity 99.9%) so that these added amounts of
density, which affects the properties. [7] Mechanical. As for nickel achieve the required weight percentages in the
the researcher Ranganatha R. and his colleagues, they samples studied, which are %wt) 1 0.5, 0.1 (Ni), [taking into
applied different heat treatments to alloy 7049, namely: 6T account the increase in the calculated quantity by a small
and 73T, and finally the RRA treatment [8]. Another group amount, about 10%, due to the loss occurring in the amount
of researchers studied the effect of aging conditions on the of added nickel as a result of combustion, oxidation and lack
properties of the school alloy. Researcher Song Chen and his of dissolution. The nickel powder was coated with pure
colleagues studied the effect of three-stage aging on the aluminum foil to reduce oxidation and combustion during
properties of alloy 7085. Three-stage aging improved the the smelting process, which will lead to a decrease in its
tensile strength by 5% over double aging, with [9]. percentage These weighed pieces of aluminum alloy 7075
Improving SCC corrosion resistance. Researcher Cao Cheng with nickel powder coated with aluminum foil were placed
and his colleagues studied the effect of pre-aging on the in a graphite crucible, and the melting process was carried
hardness of the alloy Zn -2%Mg -5.2%Al containing 0.45% out. The effect of heat treatments and the addition of nickel
copper, as pre-aging led to a greater density of the 32Mg-T, 113 on the mechanical properties of high-resistance
Al(49) phase and softness. Its grains were transformed from aluminum alloys in an electric furnace with a maximum
a coarse slice-like form to a finer form, and the needle-like temperature of 1200°C.] 16[The melting took place at a
S-phase decay of MgCu2Al led to an increase in hardness temperature of 850ºC. In order to ensure the melting and
values [11,10]. spread of the nickel in the melt, it was kept at this
temperature for an hour. 5. The melt was stirred well
Another group of researchers worked to improve the approximately every half hour using an Aviti drawbar to
properties of seventh-series aluminum alloys by adding ensure uniform distribution of the nickel in the melt.

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Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Table 1 Weight Percentages of Elements in Alloy .7075
Element Standard Installation Experimental Installation
Silicone 0.4 0.085
Titanium 0.02 0.5
Chromium 0.27-0.17 0.18
Iron 0.6 0.17
Copper 1.3-2 1.8
Magnesium 2.2-2.8 2.35
Manganese 0.3 0.01
Zinc 5.2-6.2 5.8
Aluminum Bal. Bal.

Then molten was poured into the steel mold, shown in resulting castings. Finally, the castings were taken out from
Figure 1, which was prepared in advance to obtain inside the mold after cooling. The chemical composition of
cylindrical castings, which had a diameter of 25 mm and a the castings was confirmed by spectroscopic analysis using a
height of 150 mm. The metal mold was heated before the Spectrolab device. Table 2 shows the chemical composition
casting process to a degree of 300 °C to avoid pre-freezing of the castings studied in the research.
of the molten and to reduce defects in the casting. The

Table 2 Chemical Composition of 7075 Alloy with Proportions of Nickel (% wt)

Element A B C D
Nickel - 0.12 0.35 1.07
Silicone 0.086 0.085 0.083 0.081
Titanium 0.06 0.049 0.045 0.043
Chromium 0.19 0.179 0.178 0.177
Iron 0.17 0.159 0.155 0.154
Copper 1.8 1.678 1.675 1.668
Magnesium 2.35 2.334 2.333 2.345
Manganese 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Zinc 5.8 5.678 5.654 5.697
Aluminum Bal. Bal. Bal. Bal.

All castings were subjected to solution heat treatment applied by artificially aging the castings at a temperature of
at a temperature of 480 ºC for 8 hours, then quenching in 120 ºC for a period of 24 hours, then quenching in cold
cold water. Then two different heat treatments were applied water. As for the treatment (RRA), it was carried out by first
to the castings D, C, B, and A. The first case was heat artificial aging at a temperature of 120 ºC for an hour. 24
treatment (6T), and the second case It is the re-aging Then re-aging at 180 ºC for 30 minutes, then artificial re-
treatment after recovery (RRA). The 6T treatment was aging at 120 ºC for 24 hours.

Fig 1 The Steel Mold used for Casting

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Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION sharpened using a semi-automatic sharpening device with
water sharpening paper of grades 600, 800, and 1000. 1200,
 Tensile Strength then polished using 0.25 µm synthetic diamond paste, then
The tensile test was performed according to ASTM the surfaces of the samples were scratched by dipping them
557B using the OLSEN TINIUS KS25H testing device, and for a time ranging between (10-20) seconds in the Keller
the dimensions of the tested tensile sample are shown in exposure solution, which has the following composition
Figure 2. Figures 3 and 4 show the yield stress and tensile [17]: 1 cm 3 HF, 1.5 cm 3 HCl, 2.5 cm 3 HNO3, 95 cm 3
strength values, respectively, for the base 7075 alloy and the H2O Figure 6 shows microscopic images of samples of
7075 alloy containing 0.5, 0.1, wt%[1%] of nickel when alloy 7075 base that do not contain nickel. Figures 7-9 show
subjected to two different types of heat treatment, namely microscopic images of samples of alloy 7075 containing
6T and RRA. We notice from Figures 3 and 4 that the percentages of 1%, 0.5%, and 0.1% of nickel, respectively,
tensile properties (yield stress) of alloy 7075 for various heat from For various heat treatments after casting (without heat
treatment conditions (after casting, 6T, and RRA) increased treatment), 6T treatment, and RRA treatment. It can be
in value with an increase in the nickel percentage until it noted that the microstructure of the samples before being
reached 0.5%, and with an increase in the nickel percentage subjected to 6T or RRA heat treatments, that is, of the
above this value, the values of the tensile properties began to samples after casting, contained an internal network of
decrease. Down. It can also be noted that the RRA heat dendrites around the primary grains, and many Of smooth,
treatment gave better results than the 6T heat treatment, as equal grains containing grains perpendicular to each other,
we find that the maximum value of the tensile strength was and the density of the cross-network began to gradually
for the alloy containing 0.5% nickel, Mpa = 415 UTS, and decrease after applying the 6T treatment, and the density of
the yield stress, Mpa = 379 YS, when applying the 6T heat the cross-network became less when the RRA treatment was
treatment, in While these values increased when applying applied. It can also be noted that the heat treatments led to a
the RRA heat treatment at the same percentage of nickel, decrease in the grain size and a softening of the crystalline
they reached 437 Mpa for the tensile strength (UTS) and 403 structure of the alloy. 7075 and that the decrease in particle
Mpa for the yield stress (YS). size as a result of the RRA heat treatment was more than
when applying the 6T treatment, and that this change in
 Hardness Test particle size in addition to the changes in the precipitated
Study The hardness test was carried out in accordance phases (this change in phases was studied in another study
with Specification 92E-ASTM using a Vickers hardness of ours) has led to an improvement in the properties
measuring device type: 230GNEHM HARTEPRÜFER, the Mechanical (maximum tensile strength UTS, yield stress
load application time was 20 sec, and the applied load was YS, and hardness HV) for alloy 7075. It can also be noted
Kgf. 4. Five hardness readings were taken from each sample that adding nickel to alloy 7075 generally led to a decrease
from different areas to determine the average value of in the grain size, and that the smallest grain size we obtained
hardness. . Figure 5 shows the Vickers hardness values for when the percentage of nickel in the alloy was 0.5%, and
the base 7075 alloy and the 7075 alloy containing 0.5, 0.1, this This explains that the highest values of tensile and
[1 wt%]% of nickel, when subjected to 6T or RRA heat hardness properties were for alloys containing 0.5% nickel
treatment. We also notice from Figure 5 that the hardness of subjected to RRA treatment.
alloy 7075 for various heat treatments. The effect of heat
treatments and the addition of nickel 115 on the mechanical
properties of high-resistance aluminum alloys (after casting,
6T, RRA) its value increased with an increase in the
percentage of nickel until it reached 0.5% and with an
increase in The percentage of nickel above this value begins
to decrease the hardness of the alloy. It can also be noted
that the RRA heat treatment gave better results than the 6T
heat treatment, as we find that the maximum value of the
hardness of the alloy containing 0.5% nickel is HV 227
when the 6T heat treatment was applied, while the hardness
of the alloy increased when the heat treatment was applied.
RRA at the same nickel percentage and was .232 HV .

 Microstructure
Study of the microstructure To obtain microscopic
images according to the 3E-ASTM standard, an optical
microscope was used with a magnification of 200X and a Fig 2 Dimensions of the Tensile Specimen in MM
Met Optika B-353. The surfaces of the samples were

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Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165

Fig 3 Change in Yield Stress of Aluminum alloy 7075 by Changing the Nickel
Percentage and Heat Treatment Method

Fig 4 Change in Tensile Strength of Aluminum Alloy 7075 by Changing the

Percentage of Nickel and the Heat Treatment Method

Fig 5 Change in Vickers Hardness of Aluminum Alloy 7075 by Changing the Nickel
Percentage and Heat Treatment Method

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Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165

Fig 6 Micrographs at X200 Magnification of Alloy 7075 without the Addition of

Nickel after Applying Various Heat Treatment

Fig 7 Micrographs at X200 Magnification of Alloy 7075 with 0.1%

Nickel Added after Applying Various Heat Treatments

Fig 8 X200 Microscopic Images of Alloy 7075 with 0.5%

Nickel Added after Applying Various Heat Treatments

Fig 9 Micrographs at X200 Magnification of Alloy 7075 with 0.1%

Nickel Added after Applying Various Heat Treatment.

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Volume 9, Issue 1, January – 2024 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
IV. CONCLUSIONS [7]. Esmailian, M., Shakouri, M., Mottahedi, A. and
Shabestari, S. G. (2015) "Effect Of T6 and Re-Aging
 The 6T heat treatment improved the mechanical Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of 7055
properties of aluminum alloy 7075 without any addition Aluminum Alloy, "International Journal of Chemical,
of nickel, as it increased the values of tensile strength, Molecular, Nuclear, Materials and Metallurgical
strength, and Vickers hardness by 88.9%, yield stress, Engineering,PP: 1291-1294 .
56.25%, and 90%, respectively. [8]. Ranganatha, R., Kumar, V. Anil, Nandi, Vaishaki S.,
 The values of these properties of aluminum alloy 7075 Bhat, R. R. and Muralidhara, B. K. (2013)
without any addition of nickel increased further when "MultiStage Heat Treatment Of Aluminum Alloy
applying the RRA heat treatment, as the yield stress and Aa7049", Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China, No.
hardness values of both tensile strength and Vickers 23, PP: 1570- 1575.
strength increased by 111%, 81.25%, and 110%, [9]. Song-Yi, Chen, Kang-Hua, Chen, Peng-Xuan, Dong,
respectively. Sheng-Ping, Ye, Lan-Ping, Huang and Dai-Jun, Yang
 The heat treatments led to a decrease in the grain size (2016) "Effect of A Novel Three-Step Aging On
and a softening of the crystalline structure of alloy 7075. Strength, Stress Corrosion Cracking and
The decrease in the grain size as a result of the RRA heat Microstructure Of Aa7085", J. Cent. South Univ.,
treatment was greater than when applying the 6 T No. 23, PP: 1858−1862.
treatment. [10]. Di Zhang, Cheng Cao, Qibiaoma, Xuwang, Zhuang,
 The mechanical properties of Alloy 7075 improved when Linzhong, and Zhang, Jishan (2016) "Effects of Cu
nickel was added in general, and the highest values for Addition On The Precipitation Hardening Response
these properties were when applying the RRA treatment and Intergranular Corrosion of Al-5.2mg-2.0zn
when adding 0.5% nickel, while these values decreased (Wt.%) Alloy," Materials Characterization, No. 122,
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mentioned value, as the yield stress and hardness values [11]. Di Zhang, Cheng Cao, Zhuang, Linzhong and Zhang,
of both tensile strength and Vickers increased by an Jishan (2017) "Improved Age-Hardening Response
amount 103.25%, 123.9% and 78.5% respectively when and Altered Precipitation Behavior Of Al5.2mg-
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was 0.5%. Precipitation Behavior of Al3zr Dispersoids and
Recrystallization Resistance in 7150 Aluminum
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