Achieving high strength-ductility synergy through high-density coherent precipitation in twin-roll cast Al–Zn–Mg–Cu strips

Achieving dense coherent precipitates in 7xxx aluminum alloys during artificial aging to attain high strength-ductility synergy remains a challenging task as they are unstable and tend to dissolve or transform to the semi-coherent phase. Here, we successfully obtained high-density (1.32 × 10²⁴ m⁻³) and fine-sized (∼4.1 nm) coherent precipitates in the twin-roll cast Al-6.3Zn-3.3Mg-1.8Cu (wt.%) alloys through pre-strain and subsequent artificial aging, i.e. strain aging. Therefore, the peak-aged sample exhibited a satisfactory tensile strength of ∼600 MPa and extraordinary fracture elongation of ∼15%. The inconspicuous interface between coherent precipitates and the Al matrix reduces the tendency of interfacial stress concentration, which ensures high room temperature ductility. The strengthening mechanism was calculated by the dislocation shearing model, indicating that coherent precipitates contribute ∼80% of the total yield strength. This work could provide a short-process and low-budget method for preparing high-performance 7xxx series alloy strips.