Developing high strength high conductive Al alloys

加拿大的铝年产量超过300万吨，是世界领先的原铝生产国。可持续的竞争优势和全球贸易的持续挑战要求将原生铝转变为创新的增值产品。因此，这一多学科研究计划的目标是开发创新的高强度、高附加值、具有高导电性的铝基产品。要实现这一目标，学术界和工业界在创新的铝产品和工艺路线的研究、开发和应用方面的协同是至关重要的。随着世界铜供应量的减少，导电铝合金成为高导电性零件的首选材料。随着电动汽车市场的不断增长，这一点变得更加关键。然而，开发创新的高强度铝导体面临着多方面的复杂的科学和技术挑战，因为所需的性能(即导电性和强度)是相互排斥的，这意味着导致强度提高的参数会降低导电性，反之亦然。需要进行深入的基础研究，以了解铝合金中潜在的强化因素，并确定它们对机械性能、导电性和铸造性能的各自贡献。因此，该项目的长期目标是在合金设计、制造路线和微结构工程方面扩大我们对铝合金系统的机械性能、导电性和可浇注性的理解。通过该计划计划的先进解决方案预计将为加拿大铝业提供竞争优势，使其保持铝产品生产/制造的全球领先地位。

With an annual production of over 3 Mt of Al, Canada is a world-leading producer of primary Al. The sustainable competitive advantage and the ongoing challenges of global trade require transforming primary Al into innovative value-added products. Hence, the objective of this multidisciplinary research program is to develop innovative high strength, value-added Al-based products possessing high conductivity. A synergy between academia and industry concerning the research, development and application of the innovative Al products and processing routes is crucial to obtain this objective.As the world Cu supplies dwindle, conductive Al alloys become materials of choice for the parts requiring high conductivity. This has become even more critical with the growing market for electric vehicles. However, developing innovative high strength Al conductors has multi-faceted complex scientific and technological challenges, as the required properties (i.e., conductivity and strength) are mutually exclusive, meaning that the parameters leading to strength improvement deteriorate conductivity, and vice versa. In-depth fundamental studies are required to understand the underlying strengthening factors in Al alloys, and determine their respective contributions to mechanical performance, electrical conductivity and castability. Hence, the project's long-term objective is to expand our understanding of the mechanical performance, conductivity, and castability of Al-alloy systems in relation to alloy design, fabrication routes, and microstructural engineering. The advanced solutions, planned through this program, are expected to provide a competitive edge to Canadian Al industries to remain a global leader in the production/manufacturing of Al products.