Experimental investigation of tension and compression creep-ageing behaviour of AA2050 with different initial tempers

Creep-ageing behaviour of aluminium alloy 2050 with different initial tempers (T34, T84 and as-quenched) has been experimentally investigated under both tension and compression creep-ageing conditions, with different stress levels at 155 °C for 18 h. Corresponding strengthening phenomena have been studied by interrupted creep-ageing tests and subsequent tensile tests. Moreover, the microstructures of some selected specimens after creep-ageing tests have been examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the precipitation process has been analysed. It has been found that creep strains under tensile stresses are much larger than those under compressive stresses during the tests. A new "double primary creep feature" has been observed in both the as-quenched alloys and the pre-stretched/natural-aged (T34) alloys, in which an intermediate inverse creep stage with an increasing creep strain rate locates between the initial primary+transient steady-state creep stages and the second primary+second steady-state creep stages. While for the alloy with peak-aged initial temper (T84), typical primary and steady-state secondary creep stages are observed during tension creep-ageing tests and little creep strain occurs under compressive stresses of 150 and 175 MPa. The mechanisms for these phenomena are discussed in terms of microstructural interactions among the changing dislocations, solute-matrix bonding and precipitates, and their effects on the creep resistance of the alloy during creep-ageing tests are analysed.