Available online at www.sciencedirect.

com
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
ScienceDirect
ScienceDirect
Available
Availableonline
onlineatatwww.sciencedirect.com
www.sciencedirect.com
Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2017) 000–000

ScienceDirect
ScienceDirect 
Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2017) 000–000 www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
Procedia Manufacturing 20 (2018) 53–58
Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2017) 000–000
www.elsevier.com/locate/procedia
2nd International Conference on Materials Manufacturing and Design Engineering
2nd International Conference on Materials Manufacturing and Design Engineering
The influence of heat treatments on electrical conductivity and
The influence of heat treatments on electrical conductivity and
corrosion performance of AA 7075-T6 aluminium alloy
corrosion
Manufacturing performance
Engineering of AA
Society International 7075-T6 aluminium
Conference 2017,
2017, Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
alloy
MESIC 2017, 28-30 June

S. B. Pankadeaa*, D. S. Khedekarbb, C. L. Gogteaa

Costing models S.
forB.capacity
Pankade *,optimization
a
D. S. Khedekar ,inC. Industry
4.0: Trade-off
L. Gogte
Marathwada Institute of Technology, Aurangabad-431010, India
between used capacity and operational efficiency
b a
b
Marathwada
Jawaharlala Institute
Nehru of Technology,
Engineering Aurangabad-431010,
College, India
Aurangabad-431003,India
Jawaharlala Nehru Engineering College, Aurangabad-431003,India

A. Santanaa, P. Afonsoa,*, A. Zaninb, R. Wernkeb

Abstract a
University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Abstract b
Unochapecó, 89809-000 Chapecó, SC, Brazil
Heat treatable aluminium alloys such as AA 7075 gains high strength during aging. These alloys have large applications in
Heat treatable
aircrafts, aluminium
missiles and alloysfor
automobiles such
many as AA 7075 gains
components. AAhigh 7075strength during
aluminium aging.
alloys These alloystohave
is susceptible large applications
exfoliation corrosion due in
aircrafts,
to presencemissiles
of highandcontent
automobiles
of Zn. forDifferent
many components.
heat treatment AA processes
7075 aluminium alloys isonsusceptible
are performed to exfoliation
age hardenable aluminium corrosion
alloys due
to
to presence
improve
Abstract
of highresistance.
corrosion content of TheZn. objective
Different of heatthistreatment
study isprocesses are performed
to investigate on age
the effect hardenable
of different heataluminium
treatmentsalloys
such asto
improve corrosion
retrogression resistance.
and re-aging (RRA)Theandobjective
duplex of this on
aging study
the iscorrosion
to investigate
performancethe and
effectelectrical
of different heat treatments
conductivity such as
of heat treatable
retrogression and re-aging
AA 7075-T6 alloy. (RRA)
On coupons of and duplex aging
AA 7075-T6 on the corrosion
the retrogression performance
at 200˚C for 2 hr andandre-aging
electrical conductivity
at 120 ˚C for 24 of hr heat treatable
is performed.
Under
AA the concept
Also7075-T6
another alloy. Onof
treatment "Industry
coupons
known of AA
as 4.0",
7075-T6
duplex production
aging the
at 163˚C processes
retrogression will
at 200˚C
for different beduration
for
time 2 pushed
hr and suchto asbe 4at
re-aging increasingly
120
hr, 8 ˚C
hr, for
16 24 interconnected,
hr,hrand
is performed.
24 hr was
information
Also another
performed. based
This wason
treatment aknown
real by
followed time basis aging
asexfoliation
duplex and, necessarily,
at 163˚C
corrosion themuch
andfor more
different
corrosion time efficient. In this as context,
duration determined.
performance such 4 hr,The capacity
8 hr, 16 hr, and
electrical optimization
24 hr was
conductivity is
goes beyond
performed.
the most thewas
This
importanttraditional
followedaim
measure of capacity
by exfoliation
associated maximization,
withcorrosion
age contributing
and the corrosion
hardenable aluminium also for
performance
alloys, organization’s
determined.
which Theprofitability
directly reflect electrical and value.is
conductivity
the internal condition
the most lean
Indeed, important
(microstructures) measure
of such
management associated
alloys.andThe withreveals
study
continuous ageimprovement
hardenable
that duplexaluminium
aging alloys,
at 163˚C
approaches forwhich
16 hr directly
suggest reflect
shows better
capacity the internal
result
optimization for both condition
electrical
instead of
(microstructures)
conductivity andThe
maximization. of such
corrosion
studyalloys. The study
resistance.
of capacity reveals thatand
optimization duplex agingmodels
costing at 163˚Cisforan 16 hr shows research
important better result
topic for that
bothdeserves
electrical
conductivity and
contributions corrosion
from both theresistance.
practical and theoretical perspectives. This paper presents and discusses a mathematical
© 2017The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
model
© 2018 for
The capacity
Authors. management
Published byby based on
Elsevier B.V.different costing models (ABC and TDABC). A generic model has been
2017The Authors.
Peer-review
© under Published
responsibility ofElsevier B.V. committee of the 2nd International Conference on Materials
the scientific
developed
Peer-reviewand
Peer-review it
under
underwas used to
responsibility analyze idle
of the scientific capacity
committee andoftothedesign strategies
2nd International towards theonConference
Conference maximization on of
Materials Manufacturingorganization’s
and
Manufacturing
Design andresponsibility
Engineering.
of the scientific committee
Design Engineering. of the 2nd International Materials
value. The trade-off capacity maximization vs operational efficiency is highlighted and it is shown that capacity
Manufacturing and Design Engineering.
optimization
Keywords: RRA,might hiderate,
Corrosion operational inefficiency.
AA7075, Duplex aging, Electrical conductivity
© 2017 The
Keywords: Authors.
RRA, Published
Corrosion by Elsevier
rate, AA7075, DuplexB.V.
aging, Electrical conductivity
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Manufacturing Engineering Society International Conference
2017.

Keywords: Cost Models; ABC; TDABC; Capacity Management; Idle Capacity; Operational Efficiency

1. Introduction
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-9890841908; fax: +91-240-2375154.
* Corresponding
E-mail
The address
cost author. Tel.: +91-9890841908;
: sandeep.patil@mit.asia
of idle capacity is a fundamentalfax:information
+91-240-2375154.
for companies and their management of extreme importance
E-mail address : sandeep.patil@mit.asia
in modern production systems. In general, it is defined as unused capacity or production potential and can be measured
2351-9789© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
in several ways: tons of production, available hours of manufacturing, etc. The management of the idle capacity
Peer-review2017
2351-9789© under responsibility
The of thebyscientific
Authors. Published committee of the 2nd International Conference on Materials Manufacturing and
Elsevier B.V.
* Paulo Afonso.
Peer-review Tel.:
under +351 253 510of
responsibility 761;
thefax: +351 253
scientific 604 741 of the 2nd International Conference on Materials Manufacturing and
committee
Design Engineering.
E-mail address: psafonso@dps.uminho.pt
Design Engineering.
2351-9789 © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Peer-review
2351-9789 © under
2018responsibility
The Authors. of the scientificbycommittee
Published Elsevier of the Manufacturing Engineering Society International Conference 2017.
B.V.
Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 2nd International Conference on Materials Manufacturing and
Design Engineering.
10.1016/j.promfg.2018.02.007
54 S.B. Pankade et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 20 (2018) 53–58
2 S Pankade , D Khedekar and C Gogte/ Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2017) 000–000

1. Introduction

AA 7075 aluminium alloy, with zinc as the primary alloying element is strong light metal alloy with strength
comparable to steel. It has good fatigue strength and average machinability, but has less resistance to corrosion than
many other Al alloys. 7xxx series alloys such as 7075 are often used in transport applications, including marine,
automotive and aviation, due to their high strength-to-density ratio [1]. The AA7075 alloys is used for fabricating
many components such as aircraft fittings, gears and shafts, fuse parts, missile parts, regulating valve parts, aircraft ,
aerospace, defense, bike frames and house hold frames [2]. The earlier applications in aeronautics and almost all the
mechanical applications use this alloy in the T6 condition, which is characterized by the highest ultimate and yield
strengths, but, at the same time in the case of heavy sections it has poor corrosion resistance. Most aluminium alloys
that respond to aging will undergo some hardening at ambient temperatures.. Aging at a sufficiently elevated
temperature known as artificial aging is characterized by different behavior in which the hardness increases to a
maximum and then decreases. In commercial heat treatment, an aging treatment is usually selected that gives a
desired response to hardening (strengthening) in a convenient period of time [3].

The growing demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce energy consumption and air pollution is a
challenge for the automotive industry. The properties of aluminium such as high strength, stiffness to weight ratio,
good formability, good corrosion resistance, and recycling potential make it the ideal candidate to replace heavier
materials. Heat treatable aluminum alloys such as AA7075 are susceptible to localized corrosion in chloride
environments, such as pitting, crevice corrosion, intergranular corrosion, exfoliation corrosion and stress corrosion
cracking. Although metals are very important engineering materials, but the serious setback to their mechanical
properties is corrosion. The effect of unchecked corrosion therefore is not limited to the state of corroding utility
itself but also influences deeply man and his economic and social welfare [4]. In some cases, the corrosion products
exist as a thin adherent film which merely stains or tarnishes the metal and may act as a retardant to further
corrosive action. In other cases, the products of corrosion are bulky and porous in character, offering no protection.
One of the most serious problems of industry, corrosion causes damage in the billions of rupees each year. The
science of corrosion prevention and control is highly complex, exacerbated by the fact that corrosion takes many
different forms and is affected by numerous outside factors.

Material and mechanical professionals must understand the effects of environmental conditions such as soil
resistivity, humidity and exposure to salt water on various types of materials; the type of product to be processed,
handled, or transported, required lifetime of the structure or component, appropriate mitigation methods and other
considerations before determining the specific corrosion problem and specifying an effective solution. Corrosion
may take place by direct reaction between the metal and the solution in contact with it, or the corrosion reaction may
separate into anodic and cathodic parts which may take place at areas separated from each other by finite distances.
If the reaction takes place without separation, it is called direct chemical corrosion and if the two parts are separated
it is called electrolytic corrosion. Whether it is direct chemical or electrolytic corrosion, the course of the reaction
must be in conformity with the known laws of electrochemistry and thermodynamics [5]. It is well established fact
for RRA heat treatment conditions which give rise for good corrosion- resistance also display higher values of
electrical conductivity, so conductivity is an important monitor. Electrical conductivity of a material can be
controlled by controlling the number of charge carriers in the material or by controlling the mobility or ease of
movement of the charge carriers. The mobility depends on atomic bonding, lattice imperfections, and microstructure
in ionic compounds diffusion rate [6].

Retrogression and re-aging (RRA) consists of heating peak aged (T6) samples at high temperatures
(retrogression) below the solves line within a two-phase region for a short time and then re-aging the materials at a
low temperature and a long time. RRA results in an optimum combination of strength and corrosion resistance [6].
The resistance to corrosion of the retrogressed and re-aged T-6 temper was due to coarsening of the grain boundary
precipitates. Alloy 7075 is from the series of alloy in which its susceptibility to corrosion had been minimized by
 S.B. Pankade et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 20 (2018) 53–58 55
S Pankade , D Khedekar and C Gogte / Procedia Manufacturing00 (2017) 000–000 3

the proper heat treatment. The high corrosion resistance of aluminium is due to the self-protecting, thin, invisible
oxide film that forms immediately on exposing surfaces to the atmosphere [3]. This film protects the metal from
further corrosion. If oxide film is removed in many environments, a new film will form immediately and the metal
remains fully protected. Alloy 7075 has been thoroughly evaluated for corrosion resistance of atmospheric
weathering, stress-corrosion cracking and exfoliation in all currently available tempers. Considering both the
mechanical properties and the corrosion resistance, the T76 temper could be replaced by the 163°C for 8hr aging [7].
The retrogression and re-aging can be performed after T6 temper which may produce changes in microstructure and
in-turn in properties. This process also known as duplex aging treatment and can be followed for enhancing the
corrosion resistance of age hardenable aluminum alloys.

In this experimental work the different temper conditions and exfoliation corrosion of age hardenable AA 7075
was investigated. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of heat treatments on the electrical conductivity
and the corrosion performance of aluminum AA 7075- T6 alloy using weight loss method.

2. Experimental

A commercial 7075 aluminium alloy has been used in this research work, the chemical composition (wt %) is
described in Table 1.

Table 1. Composition (Wt %) AA 7075 aluminium alloy.

Ele. Zn Mg Cu Cr Mn Fe Si Ti Al
wt% 5.42 1.59 1.5 0.1 0.01 0.23 0.04 0.06 Bal

The plates were machined to 20mm width, 50 mm length and 6 mm thickness. The rectangular coupons
(samples) were made smooth by thoroughly grinding on emery abrasive papers. All the coupons were solutionized
at 460 ˚C for 1 Hr and artificially aged at 120˚C for 24 Hrs, respectively known as T6 temper. This T6 treatment was
followed by Retrogression and Re-aging (RRA) treatment shown in Fig 1 and Solutionizing plus duplex aging as
shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 1: Treatment A -Retrogression and Re-aging Fig. 2: Heat treatment B - (Solutionizing +

(RRA) treatment for AA 7075 duplex aging)

The electrical conductivity was measured using Technofore Conductivity Meter Type 979 within 1% accuracy
shown in Fig. 3 The meter utilizes a hand held probe of 10 mm diameter to measure the conductivity in units of
%IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). The conductivity was measured in at least three random
locations on each sample and then averaged to obtain a conductivity number for the whole piece. Careful attention
was paid to ensure that conductivity measurements were not taken near the edge or at thin sections, so that the
electric field of the probe stayed in the metal.

Exfoliation test performed according to ASTM G34 Exfoliation Corrosion Susceptibility in 2XXX and 7XXX
Series Aluminium Alloys (EXCO Test) [8]. Exfoliation corrosion, that proceeds laterally from the sites of initiation
along plans parallel to the surface, generally at grain boundaries. All the samples (for all samples including T6;
56 S.B. Pankade et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 20 (2018) 53–58
4 S Pankade , D Khedekar and C Gogte/ Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2017) 000–000

solutionized) were exposed to an acid solution for 48 hours. The EXCO solution consists of NaCl (4.OM), KN03
(0.5M), and HN03 (0.l M). All the test coupons (Fig. 4) were cleaned and weighted. The weighted coupons were
immersed completely into 500ml different beakers containing the corrosive media, weight losses of the coupons
were taken after 48 Hrs. Before each coupon was weighed, the surface was scrubbed with brush in distilled water
and rinsed in ethanol in order to remove corrosion product and then air-dried. The weight loss was determined as the
difference between the initial weight of the specimen prior to immersion and its weight after removal of corrosion
product. The corrosion rate according to ASTM G1 calculated and compared for different heat treatment conditions
[9].

Fig. 3: Electrical conductivity meter for Non ferrous Fig.4 Coupon after Exfoliation corrosion
metals

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Electrical conductivity measurement

Electrical conductivity was measured after each heat treatment as per ASTM E 1004-02. The values of electrical
conductivity are an important monitor. Fig. 5 shows the electrical conductivity (% IACS) after the various
treatment. As shown in fig.5, it is clear that after T6 temper electrical conductivity found 31.4 % IACS and it was
increased after RRA treatment to 35.1% IACS. Whereas, for the sample 163°C_4 Hr the electrical conductivity
remained same as T6 temper. For the treatment 163°C_8 Hr conductivity increased slightly to 33.2%IACS. But, for
163°C_16 Hr sample, the electrical conductivity increased to 36.2 %IACS drastically and it is more than RRA
treatment. For the sample 163°C_24 Hr it is increased to 35.8 %IACS and is similar to RRA treatment. The
measurement was taken immediately after each treatment and also continued alternate day for 15 days. No change
found in subsequent measurements. The change in electrical conductivity for different heat treatment conditions for
AA7075 is attributed to various precipitation stages formed during artificial aging treatment for different time
periods.

Fig. 5 Electrical conductivity measurement Fig. 6 Corrosion rate in mm per year based
on weight loss method
 S.B. Pankade et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 20 (2018) 53–58 57
S Pankade , D Khedekar and C Gogte / Procedia Manufacturing00 (2017) 000–000 5

3.2. Corrosion rate

The results of the exfoliation corrosion damage measurements and corrosion rate are given in fig. 6. The
corrosion rate in mm/year and mile/yr is calculated using eq. 1 and compared.

𝐶𝑅 = (𝑘 × 𝑤)/𝐴 × 𝑇 × 𝐷)--------------------------------------------------------1

Where,
K= 8.76 x 104 for CR in mm/yr (mmpy), W = weight loss in gm
D = Density of Aluminium alloy in gm/cm3, A= total surface area of sample in cm2
T = exposure time in hours, in various media.

Fig. 7 shows that, Corrosion rate of AA 7075 at different heat treatment such as solutionizing, T6 temper,
retrogression and reaging and duplex treatment at 163°C for different time. It was found that corrosion resistance is
much more improved after RRA treatment and duplex treatment at 163°C_16 Hr. after T6 temper. The corrosion
rate for 163°C_4 Hr sample is just similar to the T6 Temper condition. Result shows that after 163°C_4Hr duplex
treatment after T6 temper conditions there was no change in corrosion rate. Result shows that at 163°C_16 Hr,
163°C_24 Hr duplex treatment and RRA the corrosion performance is improved after T6 temper.

Fig. 7 Co-relation between electrical conductivity and corrosion rate.

As electrical conductivity increases after heat treatment the corrosion performance of AA 7075 increases. Fig 7
shows that at the electrical conductivity after RRA heat treatment and duplex treatment 163°C_16 Hr and 24Hr was
increased whereas the corrosion performance also improved.

Conclusions

In the present study, electrical conductivity and exfoliation corrosion performance of the 7075 AA treated with
T6 temper, RRA and duplex treatment had been examined.
Electrical conductivity improves for all the treatments in comparison to T6 except Solutionizing and electrical
conductivity is maximum for duplex aging of 163°C-16 hrs. Corrosion rate decreases with all the treatments in
comparison to T6 and has minimum corrosion rate for duplex aging of 163°C-16 hrs. Duplex aging of 163°C-16 hrs
for 7075 AA shows better result in electricity conductivity and corrosion resistance.
58 S.B. Pankade et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 20 (2018) 53–58
6 S Pankade , D Khedekar and C Gogte/ Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2017) 000–000

References:

[1] N. Ward, A. Tran, A. Abad, E.W. Lee, M. Hahn, E. Fordan, and O. Es-Said, The Effects of Retrogression and Reaging on Aluminum Alloy
2195, Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance., Volume 20(6), (2011).1003–1014.
[2] Alcoa 7075 data sheet (PDF), accessed (August 13, 2017).
[3] I J Polmer, “Light Alloys, from traditional alloys to nanocrystals”, fourth edition, (2005).42-149.
[4] ASM Handbook, Volume 13A Corrosion: Fundamentals, Testing, and Protection, (2003),689-692.
[5] H.R. Zaid, A.M. Hatab, A.M.A. Ibrahim, “ Properties enhancement of Al-Zn-Mg alloys by retrogression and reaging heat treatment”, Journal
of mining and metallurgy, vol. 47 (1), (2011).31-35.
[6] R. Ranganatha, P. Raghothama Rao, R.R.Bhat, B.K.Murlidhara, “Retrogression and Reaging treatment of AA7049 Aluminium alloys”,
International journal of engineering science and technology, vol 3 No 7, , (2011),5646-5651.
[7] G. Silva, B. Rivolta, R. Gerosa and U. Derudi, “Study of the SCC Behavior of 7075 Aluminum Alloy After One-Step Aging at 163 °C”,
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, Volume 22, Issue 1, (2012).210–214.
[8] ASTM G 34 -01, Standard test method for Exfoliation Corrosion Susceptibility in 2XXX and 7XXX series Aluminium Alloys (EXCO Test),
ASTM international, (2004).
[9] ASTM G1, “Standard Practice for Preparing cleaning and evaluation corrosion test specimens”, ASTM international, (2004).