Effect of a Trace Addition of Sn on the Aging Behavior of Al-Mg-Si Alloy with a Different Mg/Si Ratio.

In this paper, the effect of trace Sn on the precipitation behavior and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloys with different Mg/Si ratios aged at 180 °C was investigated using hardness measurements, a room-temperature tensile test, transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results shown that Sn reduces the precipitation activation energy, increases the number density of β″ precipitates, and then increased the aging hardenability and mechanical properties of the Al-Mg-Si alloy. However, the positive effect of Sn on the mechanical properties of the Al-Mg-Si alloy drops with the decrease of the Mg/Si ratio of the alloy.