Effect of Sn additions on GP Zone formation in Al-Cu alloys

Journal Article · Sat May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-716X(93)90469-9· OSTI ID:6788967

Bartges, C W ^[1]; Lin, J S ^[2]

---

1. Aluminum Co. of America, Alcoa Center, PA (United States)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)

Sn additions have been shown to significantly affect the decomposition of Al-Cu alloys. Artificial aging is accelerated while natural aging is retarded. This paper addresses the latter effect. The retarded natural aging response resulting from Sn additions has been attributed to suppression of GP Zone formation This conclusion has been based on strength/hardness, specific heat and X-ray diffraction data. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to study this phenomenon in this study because it is more suited for quantifying precipitate characteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was also employed. The conclusion of previous investigations were confirmed using SAXS and DSC techniques. Both methods clearly showed that GP Zone formation in Al-Cu alloys is suppressed by the addition of Sn. The quantitative capacity of SAXS was useful for measuring the radius of gyration for the GP Zones in the binary alloy and comparing the amount of scattering particles present. DSC was useful because it provided a rapid and inexpensive means of verifying the SAXS results.

• OSTI ID: 6788967
• Journal Information: Scripta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Vol. 28:10; ISSN 0956-716X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
MICROSTRUCTURE
COPPER ALLOYS
TIN
METALLURGICAL EFFECTS
AGING
CALORIMETRY
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
SMALL ANGLE SCATTERING
SPECIFIC HEAT
THERMAL ANALYSIS
TIN ADDITIONS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ALLOYS
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFRACTION
ELEMENTS
METALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TIN ALLOYS
360102* - Metals & Alloys- Structure & Phase Studies