Effect of a thermomechanical process including aging and multi directional forging processes on microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of Al-40Zn-3Cu alloy

After MDF, hardness and strength of the alloy decreased but its ductility increased. In this context, the optimum strength, hardness and ductility for the alloy were achieved after three cycle MDF. While aging which applied at 200 °C before three cycle MDF improved the ductility of alloy, its the strength and hardness increased with repeated aging at 200 °C but its ductility decreased. Aging with applied at 100 °C after three cycle MDF led to significant increase in strength and hardness of the alloy but decrease in its ductility. However, strength and hardness decreased with aging which applied at 150 °C and 200 °C after three cycle MDF while its ductility increased. The process applied in these conditions gave rise to an increase in strength and hardness, a decrease in ductility and an improve in wear resistance of the alloy as compared to its three cycle MDFed state. The results obtained after applied process were evaluated and explained according to process-microstructure-properties relationship. Results obtained from this study showed that the process composed of three cycle MDF + 150 °C aging gave rise to appropriate mechanical and tribological properties for the alloy amongst the other applied process.