Table of Contents

Objectives:................................................................................................................................2
Abstract:...................................................................................................................................2
Introduction:.............................................................................................................................2
Apparatus& materials:..............................................................................................................3
Procedures:...............................................................................................................................4
Result and calculation:..............................................................................................................5
The result which have been observed is:..........................................................................5

*Draw the hardness number versus Time :............................................6

Discussion and questions:.........................................................................................................7
Conclusion:...............................................................................................................................9
Recommendation:....................................................................................................................9
*References:.............................................................................................................................9

Table of Contents

Figure 1 Furnace.......................................................................................................................3
Figure 2 Vickers tester and optical microscope........................................................................4
Figure 3 Aluminum Specimens.................................................................................................4
Figure 4 Relation between VHN and Time...............................................................................6

Table of Tables
Table 1 d1 and d2 from micrometer........................................................................................5
Table 2 The Result....................................................................................................................6

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Objectives:
In this experiment we want to enhance the strength and hardness of non-ferrous alloys
(Aluminum alloy) by means of precipitation hardening (age hardening), where fine
.precipitates formed and block the motion of dislocations

Abstract:
Precipitation hardeningBased on criteria of keeping heating and cooling the
specimen (Aluminum alloy), then measure the hardness number using Vickers
hardness test, to observe the difference in hardness number after every heating-
cooling period, and the effects of this procedure.

Introduction:
Precipitation hardening, also called age hardening, is a heat treatment technique
used to increase the yield strength of malleable materials, including most structural
alloys ofaluminum, magnesium, nickel, titanium, and some steels and stainless steels.
In superalloys, it is known to cause yield strength anomaly providing excellent high-
temperature strength.
Precipitation hardening relies on changes in solid solubility with temperature to
produce fine particles of an impurity phase, which impede the movement
of dislocations, or defects in a crystal's lattice. Since dislocations are often the
dominant carriers of plasticity, this serves to harden the material. The impurities play
the same role as the particle substances in particle-reinforced composite materials.
Just as the formation of ice in air can produce clouds, snow, or hail, depending upon
the thermal history of a given portion of the atmosphere, precipitation in solids can
produce many different sizes of particles, which have radically different properties.
Unlike ordinary tempering, alloys must be kept at elevated temperature for hours to
allow precipitation to take place. This time delay is called "aging". Solution
treatment and aging is sometimes abbreviated "STA" in metals specs and certs.
Note that two different heat treatments involving precipitates can alter the strength of
a material: solution heat treating and precipitation heat treating. strengthening
involves formation of a single-phase solid solution via quenching. Precipitation heat
treating involves the addition of impurity particles to increase a material's strength.
Precipitation hardening via precipitation heat treatment is the main topic of discussion
in this article.

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Apparatus& materials:

1_ High temperature furnace

Figure 1 Furnace

2_ Vickers hardness testing machine& Optical microscope

Figure 2 Vickers tester and optical microscope

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3_ Commercial Aluminum specimens

Figure 3 Aluminum Specimens

Procedures:

1_ first step is Solution treatment: we inserted the specimens into the furnace and heat them
above a solvus line (550 C) and leave them for 30 minutes until ahomogeneous α phase in
produce.

2_then Quenching: we cooled the heated specimens in water to produce a supersaturated

solid solution and turning of the furnace.

3_after that Aging: heat cooled specimens to temperature below the solvus line (180 C).

4_Take the specimens out of the furnace one by one in 10 minutes increment between every
two successive specimens.

5_we make cooling to the specimen separately in water or in air.

6_test each specimen by Vickers hardness testing machine (the specimen needs grinding
and polishing)

7_Finally, observe the microstructure of each specimen under the microscope (specimen
needs etching).

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 Result and calculation:
The result which have been observed is:

Total magnification of scanning objective lens = 10*40

Total magnification of microscope = 500

Time d1 (/ Mm) d2 (/Mm) VHN

5 56.5 51.5 508.6419
15 50.5 49 599.016
30 47 43 732.44
45 42 45 783.8287
60 37 40.5 987.77
Table 1 d1 and d2 from micrometer

:Notes*

Load = 500gf

Magnification =400X

P
*VHN=1.854
d²

d 1+ d 2
=d
1.0 ∗ latot
2∗ gam 004 ( )

:So

D (mm)*0.001mm VHN (kgf/mm2)

1.35 508.6419
1.244 599.016
1.125 732.44
1.0875 783.8287
0.96875 987.77

Table 2 The Result

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*Draw the hardness number versus Time :

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0
1.35 1.244 1.125 1.0875 0.96875

Figure 4 Relation between VHN and Time

Discussion and questions:

1-Comment on your result:

*in our experiment It appeared that the highest hardness number is for the specimen which
has the longest time in the furnace 60 min in contrast the specimen which has the 5min only
on the furnace. And the hardness number are increasesfrom5min to 60min.

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2- Briefly describe the three steps involved in precipitation hardening process:

The precipitation-hardening process involves three basic steps:

1) Solution Treatment, or Solutionizing, is the first step in the precipitation-hardening process

where the alloy is heated above the solvus temperature and soaked there until a homogeneous
solid solution (α) is produced. The θ precipitates are dissolved in this step and any segregation
present in the original alloy is reduced.

2) Quenching is the second step where the solid α is rapidly cooled forming a supersaturated
solid solution of αSS which contains excess copper and is not an equilibrium structure. The
atoms do not have time to diffuse to potential nucleation sites and thus θ precipitates do not
form.

3) Aging is the third step where the supersaturated α, αSS, is heated below the solvus
temperature to produce a finely dispersed precipitate. Atoms diffuse only short distances at
this aging temperature. Because the supersaturated α is not stable, the extra copper atoms
diffuse to numerous nucleation sites and precipitates grow. The formation of a finely
dispersed precipitate in the alloy is the objective of the precipitation-hardening process. The
fine precipitates in the alloy impede dislocation movement by forcing the dislocations to
either cut through the precipitated particles or go around them. By restricting dislocation
movement during deformation, the alloy is strengthened.

3-What are the main differences between artificial and natural aging:

The Natural age hardening starts at natural temperature inside the earth and produce higher
hardness relatively and take very long time in contrast the Artificial aging is starts at high
temperature using furnaces and produce lower hardness than the natural aging and need lower
time the natural aging.

4-Which composition of non-ferrous alloy can be age hardened:

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Figure 5 solution q4part1

Figure 6 solution q4patr2

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Conclusion:
We learned the relation between the hardness number and the time, and how we do
Age Hardening to nonferrous alloy specimen and the differences between time and
the VHN for example the properties when we increase age to the nonferrous alloy
specimen , hardness is increase.

Recommendation:
We recommend that you provide more equipment and all the tools needed for the
operations that all students can do the experiment to the fullest, and also we
recommend following safety instructions such as wearing gloves and other safety
tools.

*References:
Engineering material and metallurgy laboratory manual, instructor notes and some
.scientific websites

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