The effect of cold-rolling on mechanical, thermal and microstructure behaviour of the Al-Mg-Mn-Si-Fe-Cr-Sc-Zr was investigated. The material was studied during step-by-step isochronal annealing from room temperature up to 540 °C.
Precipitation reactions were studied by microhardness measurements and differential scanning calorimetry. The hardening effect is due to the precipitation of the Al3(Sc,Zr) particles.
The other thermal effect observed was probably caused by precipitation of the Mn,Fe,Cr-containing particles. This precipitation process has a negligible effect on hardness.