Review on role of intermetallic and ceramic particles in recrystallization driving force and microstructure of wrought Al alloys

Abstract

Cold/hot forming wrought Al components with the apparent advantage of lightweight, outstanding formability and strength-ductility synergy are promising in structural materials field. Recrystallization is an indispensable process during deformation or heat treatment, whose driving force and microstructures have great relevance with the mechanical properties. In recent years, reinforcement and intermetallic particles have attracted great interests in precise intervening and controlling of recrystallization microstructures due to their immense potentials in regulating the driving and retarding force of recrystallization. Nevertheless, optimizing recrystallization microstructures of particle tailored wrought Al alloys is highly challenging due to the numerous affecting factors of particles (e.g., particle addition method, size, morphology, spatial distribution, coherency, and content, etc.) and the different driving force of static and dynamic recrystallization. To further impel the progress of recrystallization process of wrought Al alloy, this review gives an in-depth cognition of the roles of intermetallic and ceramic particles in recrystallization process of wrought Al alloys. The potential relevance between the particle characteristics, recrystallization driving force, and recrystallization microstructures in wrought Al alloys are summarized. The influences of regulated recrystallization microstructures on mechanical properties of wrought Al alloy are also overviewed. This review contributes to the comprehensive understanding of mechanisms of particle manipulated recrystallization evolution, and the future research orientations and development opportunities are prospected.

Keywords

• Wrought aluminum alloys
• Intermetallic and ceramic particles
• Recrystallization driving and retarding force
• Recrystallization microstructures
• Strengthening mechanisms