Mechanical Properties of the Al–Zn–Mg–Fe–Ni Alloy of Eutectic Type at Different Strain Rates

Abstract

A number of regularities of phase and structural transitions in an economically iron and nickel doped aluminum alloy with eutectic-forming elements (nikalin) at high shear strains under pressure have been determined in this work. The structural evolution of nikalin, in particular, the change in the morphology and sizes of its structural components, such as solid Al solution grains and eutectic aluminides Al₉FeNi, was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The torsion of nikalin under high pressure was determined to result in the formation of a strengthened composite material with a submicrocrystalline Al matrix and dispersed (1.5–2.0-µm) particles of transition–metal aluminides. Kolsky dynamic compression and plane shock wave loading experiments were performed, and the mechanical behavior of nikalin with different structures was studied within a strain rate range of 10^–4–10⁵ s^–1. The dynamic characteristics of nikalin were compared with the mechanical properties determined in static tests.