Thermomechanical processing of AlMgSiCu alloys for high electrical and thermal conductivity applications

用于高导电性和导热性应用的 AlMgSiCu 合金的热机械加工

• 批准号: 2295075
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Brunel University London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2019 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2295075
• 关键词: Thermomechanical; processing; AlMgSiCu; alloys; electrical

Al-Mg-Si alloys (eg. 6101 and 6201 alloys) with a typical composition of 0.6-0.9%Mg and 0.5-0.9%Si, are commonly used in overhead transmission lines and other electrical engineering applications due to its high electrical conductivity and specific strength. However, the electrical conductivity is highly sensitive to alloying additions because higher magnesium and silicon contents significantly deteriorate electrical conductivity due to increased scattering of conduction electrons by solute atoms. Furthermore, there is a direct proportional relationship between electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity .Themomechanical processing involving solution heat treatment, followed by water quenching, deformation and artificial ageing has been applied to conventional Al-Mg-Si alloy to achieve good electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. Small addition of Cu to AlMgSi to form quaternary AlMgSiCu alloy has led to superior mechanical strength after thermomechanical processing route. Hence, one can explore this AlMgSiCu alloy for potential applications in the wiring systems of electric vehicles and in the cooling systems of electric vehicle battery modules to fulfil the light-weighting strategy. However, there is no information on the effect of thermomechanical processing and alloy chemistry of this type of AlMgSiCu alloy on electrical and thermal conductivity properties. The main aim of this research project is to establish a fundamental understanding of the effect of alloy chemistry and processing of AlMgSiCu alloy involving melting, extrusion, thermomechanical treatment on resultant microstructure, conductivity and mechanical properties, so as to develop the next generation of high thermal and electrical conductivity aluminium alloy for automotive applications. The processed sections will be analysed using a combination of optical/electron microscopies and eddy current method to understand the effect of composition and processing conditions on microstructure, strength and conductivity.

Al-Mg-Si合金(如6101和6201合金)的典型成分为0.6-0.9%的镁和0.5-0.9%的硅，由于其高导电性和比强度，通常用于架空输电线路和其他电气工程应用。然而，电导率对合金化的添加非常敏感，因为较高的镁和硅含量会由于溶质原子对传导电子的散射增加而使电导率显著恶化。此外，电导率和热导率之间存在正比关系。为了获得良好的导电性和机械强度，对传统的Al-Mg-Si合金进行了固溶热处理，然后进行水淬火、变形和人工时效。在Al-Mg-Si合金中加入少量的铜，形成四元Al-Mg-Si-Cu合金，经形变处理后具有较高的机械强度。因此，人们可以探索这种AlMgSiCu合金在电动汽车布线系统和电动汽车电池模块冷却系统中的潜在应用，以实现轻量化战略。然而，关于这种类型的AlMgSiCu合金的热机械加工和合金化学对其导电性和导热性的影响，还没有相关的信息。本研究项目的主要目的是对AlMgSiCu合金的熔炼、挤压、形变处理等合金化学和加工工艺对组织、导电性和力学性能的影响有一个基本的认识，从而开发出新一代高导热、高导电性的汽车用铝合金。将使用光学/电子显微镜和涡流方法相结合的方法对处理后的部分进行分析，以了解成分和加工条件对显微组织、强度和电导率的影响。