Structurally complex phase engineering enables hydrogen-tolerant Al alloys

Shengyu Jiang, Yuantao Xu (), Ruihong Wang, Xinren Chen, Chaoshuai Guan, Yong Peng, Fuzhu Liu, Mingxu Wang, Xu Liu, Shaoyou Zhang, Genqi Tian, Shenbao Jin, Huiyuan Wang, Hiroyuki Toda, Xuejun Jin, Gang Liu (), Baptiste Gault () and Jun Sun ()
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Shengyu Jiang: Xi’an Jiaotong University
Yuantao Xu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Ruihong Wang: Xi’an University of Technology
Xinren Chen: Max-Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials
Chaoshuai Guan: Lanzhou University
Yong Peng: Lanzhou University
Fuzhu Liu: Xi’an Jiaotong University
Mingxu Wang: Shandong University
Xu Liu: Hebei University of Technology
Shaoyou Zhang: Hebei University of Technology
Genqi Tian: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Shenbao Jin: Hebei University of Technology
Huiyuan Wang: Hebei University of Technology
Hiroyuki Toda: Kyushu University
Xuejun Jin: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Gang Liu: Xi’an Jiaotong University
Baptiste Gault: Max-Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials
Jun Sun: Xi’an Jiaotong University

Nature, 2025, vol. 641, issue 8062, 358-364

Abstract: Abstract Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) impairs the durability of aluminium (Al) alloys and hinders their use in a hydrogen economy1–3. Intermetallic compound particles in Al alloys can trap hydrogen and mitigate HE4, but these particles usually form in a low number density compared with conventional strengthening nanoprecipitates. Here we report a size-sieved complex precipitation in Sc-added Al–Mg alloys to achieve a high-density dispersion of both fine Al3Sc nanoprecipitates and in situ formed core-shell Al3(Mg, Sc)2/Al3Sc nanophases with high hydrogen-trapping ability. The two-step heat treatment induces heterogeneous nucleation of the Samson-phase Al3(Mg, Sc)2 on the surface of Al3Sc nanoprecipitates that are only above 10 nm in size. The size dependence is associated with Al3Sc nanoprecipitate incoherency, which leads to local segregation of magnesium and triggers the formation of Al3(Mg, Sc)2. The tailored distribution of dual nanoprecipitates in our Al–Mg–Sc alloy provides about a 40% increase in strength and nearly five times improved HE resistance compared with the Sc-free alloy, reaching a record tensile uniform elongation in Al alloys charged with H up to 7 ppmw. We apply this strategy to other Al–Mg-based alloys, such as Al–Mg–Ti–Zr, Al–Mg–Cu–Sc and Al–Mg–Zn–Sc alloys. Our work showcases a possible route to increase hydrogen resistance in high-strength Al alloys and could be readily adapted to large-scale industrial production.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08879-2

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