About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Environmentally Assisted Cracking: Theory and Practice
|
| Presentation Title |
Effect of Zn Content on Strength and Stress Corrosion Cracking Behavior of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys |
| Author(s) |
Hyeji Jung, Yong Hee Jo, Seoyeon Jeon, Hyunjoo Choi, Hyoung-Wook Kim, Hyokyung Sung |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Hyeji Jung |
| Abstract Scope |
High-strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys are widely used in aerospace applications but face the critical challenge of balancing mechanical strength with resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Precipitation strengthening, mainly through η' phase formation, enhances strength but can simultaneously degrade SCC resistance by promoting crack initiation and growth under corrosive environments. This study investigates the effect of Zn content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and SCC behavior of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. SCC susceptibility was evaluated in both anodic (salt solution) and cathodic (hydrogen-induced) environments to simulate realistic service conditions. The results show that increasing Zn content improves strength due to higher η' precipitate density but also increases dislocation structures and local strain fields, which accelerate SCC crack propagation. These findings highlight the trade-off between strength and SCC resistance, emphasizing the need to optimize Zn content for improved structural reliability in corrosive environments. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Environmental Effects, Mechanical Properties |