Effects of deformation parameters and stress triaxiality on the fracture behaviors and microstructural evolution of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy

Abstract Hot tensile tests are performed on an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy at larger temperature and strain rate ranges. The influences of deformation parameters and stress triaxiality on hot tensile fracture characteristics, fracture mechanisms and microstructural evolution are discussed. It is found that the maximum tensile load increases with raising stress triaxiality. The fracture strain rises with increasing strain rate or decreasing stress triaxiality. When the deformation temperature is raised, the fracture strain firstly increases and then decreases. Dynamic recovery (DRV) is the main softening mechanism. At low strain rates or high deformation temperatures, the partial dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior occurs, and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) is the main DRX mode. The dominant fracture mechanism is the coalescence of micro-voids at the tested deformation conditions. Due to the occurrence of DRX, the intergranular fracture also occurs at low strain rates or high deformation temperatures. The low strain rate or high stress triaxiality easily induces the appearance of micro-voids, which accelerate the fracture failure.