The influence of Mn dispersoid content and stress state on ductile fracture of 2134 type Al alloys

Ductile fracture studies have been conducted on four high purity AlCuMgZr (2134 type) alloys containing 0, 0.31. 0.61 and 1.02 wt% Mn in the under and overaged conditions having similar yield strengths. The second phase particle content, i.e, Mn rich dispersoids and Mn containing large particles, increased with increasing Mn content. In both aging conditions maximum ductility and toughness were observed for the 0.31% Mn alloy and minimum values were observed for the 1.02% Mn alloy, The largest void content or damage accumulation due to void nucleation and growth at any strain level occurred in the 1.02% Mn alloy, consistent with ductility values. The 0.31% Mn alloy showed the highest ductility in both aging conditions, Although the void volume fractions for the 0.31% Mn alloy were similar to those of the 1.02% Mn alloy, accumulation occurred at higher strains. The void nucleation and growth data and microstructural analysis suggest that the 0.31% Mn additions provide sufficient submicrometer Mn-dispersoids to homogenize slip without producing large Mn-rich primary particles which decrease ductility. Ductility was observed to decrease with increasing triaxial constraint which increased void volume fraction and void growth rates. However, the degree of triaxiality had little or no effect on the nucleation rate of voids.