Early-stage solute clustering and subsequent precipitation hardening phenomena in aluminum and magnesium alloys

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Heat treatable aluminum alloys have been widely used as one of the most important classes of engineering materials due to their combinations of desirable properties. These alloys can achieve high strength levels if their hardening capability is suitably exploited. This potential is of tremendous importance for automotive panel applications where the alloys can be hardened during paint baking processes. Such processes use cost-efficient routes with short heating times and low temperatures, during which the alloys undergo structural changes at nanometer scale. A deep understanding of these changes and the effect of manufacturing parameters in dictating the direction for these changes can provide the necessary tools for optimizing processes and maximizing the strength of the finished products. Recently, magnesium alloys have also attracted significant attention for the design of lightweight structural components, as well as degradable biomaterials. A number of currently-produced Mg alloys are heat treatable and have shown hardening capability. However, a thorough knowledge of the effect of processing on their hardening behaviour is lacking.