Microstructural Characterization of the As-Cast and Homogenized Al-Cu-Mg-Ag Alloy

In this study, the as-cast microstructure and the evolution of the homogenized microstructure of large-scale industrialized Al-Cu-Mg-Ag heat-resistant aluminum alloy ingots were investigated by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDS), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results indicate that the dendritic segregation is evident in the ingot along the radial direction, and the grain boundaries are decorated with lots of net-shaped continuous eutectic structures. With the homogenization time extension and the homogenization temperature increase, the eutectic phases (i.e., the primary Al₂Cu phase, the Al₂CuMg phase, and the AlCuMgAg quaternary phase) at the grain boundaries gradually dissolve back into the matrix. Meanwhile, most of the dendritic grain boundaries gradually become sparse and thinner. Finally, it is found that the optimal homogenization regime of the Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy is 420 °C/5 h+480 °C/8 h+515 °C/24 h.