Influence of chemical composition on microstructure and mechanical properties in the extruded aluminum alloys 7021B and 7175

• Both alloys exhibit very high strength – even by 7xxx series standards. • Alloy 7021B, with its low Cu content, offers new opportunities for processing and industrial applications by reducing the risk of forming low-melting eutectic phases. • High strength, typically associated with Cu-containing alloys, can also be obtained in Cu free alloys, if the Zn content is sufficiently high. The aim of this study is to improve the mechanical properties of Al 7xxx series alloys by achieving the strengthening benefits typically provided by Cu while avoiding the formation of low-melting eutectic phases associated with excessive Cu content. This is accomplished through a tailored combination of alloying elements and optimized thermomechanical treatments. Alloys 7021B (high Zn content) and 7175 (high Cu and Mg content) are analyzed and optimized threefold in this study: the heat treatment, the microstructural evolution and the mechanical properties are investigated by several methods and compared with the aim of improving the process parameters for subsequent application. The peak-aging process is optimized via compression tests to overcome the strength-ductility trade-off. Microstructure and phase chemistry analyses by transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography enable a better understanding of the underlying morphological features such as the spatial distribution, and the chemical composition of the hardening phases. The mechanical properties of the peak-aged alloys are determined by compression and tensile tests. Both alloys exhibit very high strength – even by 7xxx series standards. It can be traced back to the dislocation movement: it is impeded both by homogeneously distributed cuttable GPZs both alloys by non-cuttable η’ precipitates. As a result, we demonstrate that alloy 7021B offers novel possibilities for processing and industrial application: high strength, typically associated with Cu containing alloys, can also be obtained in Cu free alloys, if the Zn content is sufficiently high. We can thus suggest new opportunities for processing and industrial applications by reducing the risk of forming low-melting eutectic phases.