Understanding Aluminum Alloy Aging at High Stress and Elevated Temperatures

In summary, the 7075 alloy will experience high stress at elevated temperatures, and there is a risk that the yield strength will be lowered below the maximum stress. It is important to understand the metal fatigue and mechanical properties before constructing the impeller.
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LauriRauhala
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Hello,

I am designing a centrifugal heat pump, which compresses air. I'm considering making the impeller from aluminum, probably from 7075, since the stresses rise to about 385 MPa when rotating at high speeds. The input temperature of the air is 85 degrees Celcius and output 125 degrees Celcius. I am wondering how the impeller will age in the process over the years, and since the stress is quite high, is there a risk that the ageing will decrease yield strength lower than my max stress, 385 MPa?

Any tips or insights are very welcome, thanks in advance!Lauri
 
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  • #2
Welcome, @LauriRauhala !

What will the process of construction of your impeller will be?
General dimensions?
Type of air seals?
 
  • #3
If you want to use aluminum alloy, especially 7075, at high stress and elevated temperatures, an excellent resource is MIL HDBK 5 (search exactly that). It's free, legal, and readily available online. It has been superseded by the MMPDS which is expensive, but the information in MIL HDBK 5 is still good.

There is a whole chapter on aluminum alloys, and they have a large section on 7075. I suggest that you read the introductory chapters, the aluminum chapter, and then closely study the section on the 7075 alloy. These two graphs are only a small part of the information on 7075 alloy. This graph shows the effect of temperature on the yield strength of 7075-T6:
7075-T6 Temp.jpg


The second graph shows fatigue strength information on 7075-T6:
7075-T6 SN.jpg


MIL HDBK 5 has discussions on how to properly use this information, but it does assume a knowledge of metal fatigue and mechanical properties.
 
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  • #4
Lnewqban said:
Welcome, @LauriRauhala !

What will the process of construction of your impeller will be?
General dimensions?
Type of air seals?
Thanks for the welcome. The impeller diameter is about 400 mm, and we use labyrinth seals, either axial or radial. The gas is a refrigerant, properties close to ideal gas.
 
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  • #5
jrmichler said:
If you want to use aluminum alloy, especially 7075, at high stress and elevated temperatures, an excellent resource is MIL HDBK 5 (search exactly that). It's free, legal, and readily available online. It has been superseded by the MMPDS which is expensive, but the information in MIL HDBK 5 is still good.

There is a whole chapter on aluminum alloys, and they have a large section on 7075. I suggest that you read the introductory chapters, the aluminum chapter, and then closely study the section on the 7075 alloy. These two graphs are only a small part of the information on 7075 alloy. This graph shows the effect of temperature on the yield strength of 7075-T6:
View attachment 322381

The second graph shows fatigue strength information on 7075-T6:
View attachment 322382

MIL HDBK 5 has discussions on how to properly use this information, but it does assume a knowledge of metal fatigue and mechanical properties.

Thanks for these tips! I quickly went to their webpage, its not the easiest to navigate :) will have to reserve some hours to dig deeper into that.
 
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FAQ: Understanding Aluminum Alloy Aging at High Stress and Elevated Temperatures

What is the significance of studying aluminum alloy aging at high stress and elevated temperatures?

Understanding aluminum alloy aging at high stress and elevated temperatures is crucial because these conditions often occur in aerospace, automotive, and structural applications. Aging affects the mechanical properties, such as strength, ductility, and toughness, which are vital for the performance and safety of components made from these alloys.

How does high stress influence the aging process of aluminum alloys?

High stress can accelerate the aging process of aluminum alloys by promoting dislocation movement and interaction with precipitates. This can lead to changes in the microstructure, such as increased precipitation or coarsening of existing precipitates, which in turn affects the mechanical properties of the alloy.

What are the typical microstructural changes observed in aluminum alloys aged at elevated temperatures?

At elevated temperatures, aluminum alloys typically undergo precipitation hardening, where solute atoms cluster to form coherent precipitates that impede dislocation motion. Over time, these precipitates can grow and coarsen, potentially leading to a decrease in strength and an increase in ductility. Other microstructural changes may include grain boundary precipitation and the formation of secondary phases.

How can the aging behavior of aluminum alloys be controlled or optimized?

The aging behavior of aluminum alloys can be controlled by adjusting the alloy composition, heat treatment parameters (such as temperature and time), and mechanical processing methods. For example, solution heat treatment followed by quenching and aging can optimize the size and distribution of precipitates to achieve desired mechanical properties. Additionally, controlling the stress environment during aging can help tailor the material's performance.

What experimental techniques are commonly used to study aging in aluminum alloys?

Several experimental techniques are used to study aging in aluminum alloys, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to analyze thermal events, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for detailed microstructural characterization, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify phases, and mechanical testing (such as tensile and hardness tests) to evaluate changes in mechanical properties. These techniques provide comprehensive insights into the aging mechanisms and their effects.

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