In a recent study conceptualized and performed by Dipl.-Ing. Philip Aster – currently working towards his PhD thesis – we explored how adding copper (Cu) to aluminum alloys can improve their strength and flexibility.
Aluminum alloys are widely used because they are strong yet lightweight, but balancing these properties can be challenging. By focusing on Al-Mg-Si alloys and experimenting with different treatments, we found that minor additions of Cu significantly boosts the alloy’s ductility, or how much it can stretch without breaking. In some cases, adding Cu quadrupled the alloy’s elongation without compromising its strength!
Aster used advanced techniques to examine the tiny clusters within the metal that contribute to its hardness. His analysis showed that Cu helps form more and finer clusters, which strengthens the metal aluminium even further. It is like a magic touch! This improved structure, combined with specific aging treatments, enhances the alloy’s overall performance. Philip Aster’s findings highlight the crucial role of Cu in improving the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum alloys, making them even more useful for a variety of applications.
Photo: nichteisenmetallurgie.at
A great example on how chemistry significantly affects and, thus, optimizes metallurgical systems! Free access to Aster’s paper here:
Materials at Extremes 