Strength–ductility materials by engineering a coherent interface at incoherent precipitates

Abstract

In the quest for excellent light-structural materials that can withstand mechanical extremes for advanced applications, design and control of microstructures beyond current material design strategies have become paramount. Herein, we design a coherent shell at incoherent precipitates in the 2195 aluminum alloy with multi-step metastable phase transitions. A high local strain rate via a neoteric deformation-driven metallurgy method facilitated the diffusion of Li. The original T₁ (Al₂CuLi) phases were transformed into coherent-shell (Li-rich) irregular-coated incoherent-core (Al₂Cu) precipitates. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation reached 620 ± 18 MPa and 22.3 ± 2.2%, exhibiting excellent strength–ductility synergy. Grain boundaries, dislocation, solid solution atoms, and precipitates all contributed to the yield strength of the materials, among which precipitates occupied a dominant position, contributing approximately 56.07%. A new “incoherent–coherent interact” strain-hardening mechanism was also clarified, which was believed to be promoted in other heat-treatable alloy systems, especially with multi-step metastable phase transitions.