Developing high strength high conductive Al alloys

加拿大年产铝超过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铝转化为创新的增值产品。因此，该多学科研究计划的目标是开发具有高导电性的创新型高强度，高附加值铝基产品。为了实现这一目标，学术界和工业界在研究、开发和应用创新铝产品和工艺路线方面的协同作用至关重要。随着世界铜供应的减少，导电铝合金成为要求高导电性的部件的首选材料。随着电动汽车市场的不断增长，这一点变得更加重要。然而，开发创新的高强度Al导体具有多方面的复杂科学和技术挑战，因为所需的性能（即，电导率和强度）是相互排斥的，这意味着导致强度提高的参数使电导率劣化，反之亦然。需要深入的基础研究来了解铝合金中潜在的强化因素，并确定它们各自对机械性能，导电性和可铸性的贡献。因此，该项目的长期目标是扩大我们对铝合金系统的机械性能，导电性和铸造性的理解，这些都与合金设计，制造路线和微观结构工程有关。通过该计划的先进解决方案预计将为加拿大铝工业提供竞争优势，以保持铝产品生产/制造的全球领导者地位。

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.