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Solute clustering in Al-Cu-Mg alloys during the early stages of elevated temperature ageing

journal contribution
posted on 2010-09-01, 00:00 authored by Ross MarceauRoss Marceau, G Sha, R Ferragut, A Dupasquier, S P Ringer
The evolution of atomistic-level nanostructure during the early stages of elevated temperature ageing of rapid hardening (RH) Al–Cu–Mg alloys has been characterised by a combination of atom probe tomography (APT), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). APT analysis confirms that significant dispersions of small solute clusters form during ageing for 60 s at 150 °C. No zone-like precipitate structures were observed by TEM and APT examinations. These small clusters are believed to be responsible for the RH effect. Careful quantitative APT analysis reveals that a high density of Cu–Mg clusters with high Mg:Cu ratio gives the most potent strengthening response. Positron annihilation measurements also show that Cu–Mg clusters provide additional sites for vacancy stabilisation.

History

Journal

Acta materialia

Volume

58

Issue

15

Pagination

4923 - 4939

Publisher

Elsevier

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ISSN

1359-6454

eISSN

1873-2453

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2010, Acta Materialia Inc.