RESUMEN
In this study, Al-1.00 Mg-0.65 Si-0.24 Cu alloy was solution heat-treated, water-quenched, and then pre-deformed for 5% before aging. The peak hardness and yield strength of the pre-deformed sample with subsequent artificial aging were similar to that of a T6 condition sample. It was also found that the pre-deformation treatment could inhibit the negative influence of natural aging to some degree. After seven days of natural aging, the pre-deformed sample obtained better peak hardness and yield strength upon artificial aging than the sample without pre-deformation. In addition, the pre-deformation treatment could reduce 50% of the artificial aging time to reach the peak aging condition compared with T6 treatment. For the peak aged condition in the pre-deformed sample, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation found two types of precipitates exhibited along the dislocations besides the ßâ³ precipitates in the Al matrix. Both precipitates had disordered atomic arrangements on the ordered subcell (Si network). The disordered precipitates occupied a number of Mg and Si atoms, resulting in less ßâ³ precipitates formed during artificial aging at 180 °C.