This paper investigates the effect of retrogression time on the fatigue crack growth of a modified AA7475 aluminum alloy. Tests including tensile strength, fracture toughness, and fatigue limits were performed to understand the changes in properties with different retrogression procedures at 180 °C. The microstructure was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The findings indicated that as the retrogression time increased, the yield strength decreased from 508 MPa to 461 MPa, whereas the fracture toughness increased from 48 MPa√m to 63.5 MPa√m. The highest fracture toughness of 63.5 MPa√m was seen after 5 h of retrogression. The measured diameter of η' precipitates increased from 6.13 nm at the retrogression 1 h condition to 6.50 nm at the retrogression 5 h condition. Prolonged retrogression also increased the chance of crack initiation, with slower crack growth rate in the long transverse direction compared to the longitudinal direction. An empirical relationship was established between fracture toughness and the volume fraction of age-hardening precipitates, with increasing number density of precipitates seen with increasing retrogression time.
Keywords: AA7475 aluminum alloy; Al-Zn-Mg alloys; fatigue crack growth; retrogression and re-ageing; η’ precipitates.