Effect of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Microstructure and Properties of 2024 Aluminum Alloy for Skis

Bowen Ning，Ping Hu *, Guowei Zhao，Yunpeng Zhao，Zhipeng Li

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64486/m.65.3.3
Online publication date: December 24, 2025

Abstract: The 2024 aluminum alloy is widely used in ski manufacturing due to its high strength, good processability, and fatigue performance. However, its corrosion resistance in snowy environments remains a challenge. To address this, the present work investigates how thermal aging parameters influence the alloy’s microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity, aiming to optimize its heat treatment for ski applications. The results show that the comprehensive mechanical properties of the alloy are the best when the aging temperature is 190 °C and the thermal aging time is 10 hours. The tensile strength is 451 MPa, the yield strength is 339 MPa, the hardness is 81.3 HRB, and the conductivity is increased to 35.3 % IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). Microstructure analysis supported by quantitative measurements shows that fine S phase (0.2–0.4) μm and θ phase are uniformly precipitated in the alloy matrix, with the highest number density and the best microstructure uniformity. These findings provide experi-mental basis for the optimization of heat treatment process of 2024 aluminum alloy for skis, which helps to reduce the dependence on surface protection process and improve the comprehensive performance and service life of skis.

Keywords: snowboard; 2024 aluminum alloy; microstructure; mechanical properties

This article is published online first and will appear in Metalurgija, Vol. 65, Issue 3 (2026).