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Title: Precipitation stability in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloys aged at high temperatures

Journal Article · · Acta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States)
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Monash Univ., Clayton, Victoria (Australia). Dept. of Materials Engineering

A study has been made of the thermal stability of the [Sigma] phase in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloys aged at high temperature (200 to 350 C). This phase, which precipitates as thin plates on the [111][sub [alpha]] planes, has been shown to be replaced by the equilibrium precipitate [theta] (Al[sub 2]Cu) after prolonged aging (e.g. 2,400 h at 250 C). Measurements have been made of the thickening behavior of the [Omega] plates and the various orientations and morphologies of the [theta] phase have been characterized. While there is some evidence for the direct allotropic transformation of [Omega] to [theta], it is concluded that a gradual dissolution/re-precipitation mechanism dominates the changes to microstructure at these high temperatures. Although magnesium and silver are known to segregate to the [Omega] phase, they were not detected in association with [theta]. Rather they were found to partition to sites of the S phase (Al[sub 2]CuMg) which forms as a minor precipitates under these aging conditions.

OSTI ID:
5158849
Journal Information:
Acta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Vol. 42:5; ISSN 0956-7151
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English