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Title: Quantitative evaluation of precipitates in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy after isothermal aging

Journal Article · · Materials Characterization
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. General Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals, Beijing 100088 (China)
  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing 100083 (China)

The evolution of microstructure parameters (precipitate size and volume fraction) for an Al-8.0 Zn-2.05 Mg-1.76 Cu alloy during isothermal ageing has been studied by synchrotron-radiation small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) combining transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the precipitates are only a few nanometers even at higher temperature 160 deg. C up to 72 h (5.82 nm). The precipitate volume fraction reaches a plateau except ageing at 120 deg. C and the maximum is about 0.052-0.054 in the range 140-160 deg. C. Models describing the evolution of these two parameters with ageing temperature and time have been constructed for our further predicting the precipitate hardening. The coarsening of precipitate is consistent with LSW (Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner) model even in the initial stage where volume fraction is still varying. The activation energy of coarsening regime has been determined to be about 1.25 {+-} 0.02 eV.

OSTI ID:
20833191
Journal Information:
Materials Characterization, Vol. 56, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2005.10.004; PII: S1044-5803(05)00216-0; Copyright (c) 2005 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1044-5803
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English