Al-Mg-Zn(-Cu) Cross-Over Alloys: The New Frontier in High-Strength and Radiation-Resistant Lightweight Materials

Over the past few years, researchers have developed the alloy Al-Mg-Zn(-Cu), a new aluminum alloy based on the technique of ‘crossover alloying’. The main strengthening phase of this novel alloy is T-Mg32(Al, X)49(X is Zn and Cu) after ageing and hardening. This alloy system has exceptional strength and corrosion resistance, making it a promising candidate for applications in fields like automotive, marine, aerospace, and many others. In this work, the research progress of the Al-Mg-Zn(-Cu) alloy based on microstructure control, composition, design, and properties has been reviewed. Future directions for the research of this alloy are highlighted, too. In this work, crossover alloys are presented as a potential novel class of Al alloys implicating a pioneering design approach, with particular emphasis on the aeronautical and aerospace field in which radiation resistance results are one hundred times higher than traditional precipitation hardening alloys.