Strengthening-Toughening of High-Strength Al-Zn Cast Aluminum Alloys: Research Progress and Prospects

Aluminum alloy castings exhibit versatile prospects in critical aircraft, aerospace, and lightweight of automobile owing to their ultralow density and excellent specific strength. The optimization of forming and mechanical properties of cast Al alloys can significantly expand their applications. In this work, the research progress of Al-Zn high-strength cast aluminum alloy were reviewed. The strengthening mechanism and research results on micro-alloying, grain refinement, structure purification, and heat treatment optimization of high-strength as-cast aluminum alloys were summarized. The existing problems were also discussed. At last, the development trends of as-cast aluminum alloys with high strength and toughness were prospected, which has a certain practical and theoretical significance for the aluminum alloys.