Provided is a heat treatment method for improving the structure and performance of a 7xxx series aluminum
alloy. The method includes the steps that firstly, single-stage or graded
solid solution heat preservation heat treatment is conducted on a deformation form, and the final
solid solution heat preservation temperature is T1, wherein T1 is greater than or equal to 460 DEG C and less than or equal to 485 DEG C; the
alloy is cooled from T1 to T2 at an average
cooling rate V1, and then from T2 to
room temperature at an average
cooling rate V2, wherein T2 is greater than or equal to 150 DEG C and less than or equal to 190 DEG C, V1 is greater than or equal to 20 DEG C / s and less than or equal to 60 DEG C / s, and V2 is greater than or equal to 3 DEG C / s and less than or equal to 10 DEG C / s; and 1-5% of cold deformation treatment is conducted on the quenched aluminum
alloy, and then aging heat treatment is conducted at the temperature T3 for the heat preservation time t1, wherein T3 is greater than or equal to 110 DEG C and less than or equal to 140 DEG C, and t1 is greater than or equal to 10 h and less than or equal to 32 h. According to the heat treatment method for improving the structure and performance of the 7xxx series aluminum alloy, under the condition that the
residual stress is controlled, the 7xxx series aluminum alloy can obtain an ideal precipitated phase structure form, and good matching of obdurability and
corrosion resistance is obtained. Compared with the prior art, the method greatly shortens the heat
treatment time, and has the characteristics of simplicity and convenience in operation, high efficiency and feasibility.