The Heat Treatment of Rheo-High Pressure Die Cast Al-Cu-Mg-Ag Alloy 2139

High strength wrought Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy 2139 was successfully processed using the CSIR rheocasting system and cast into plates using high pressure die casting. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine suitable homogenization/solution treatment temperatures. A two-step homogenization/solution treatment of 490oC for 24 h, followed by 520oC for 2 h does not cause any incipient melting. Artificial aging of the R-HPDC 2139 plates at 160oC for 24 h results in tensile properties similar to those reported for thixoformed casting alloy 201-T6. The minimum military specifications for wrought 2139-T8 are exceeded in terms of strength, with slightly lower ductility being obtained. Artificial aging at 153oC for 20 h results in tensile properties that exceed all the minimum military specifications for wrought 2139-T8.