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Formation mechanisms and evolution of precipitate-free zones at grain boundaries in an Al–Cu–Mg–Mn alloy during homogenisation

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Abstract

Solute and vacancy depletion have long been investigated to reveal the formation mechanism of grain boundary precipitate-free zones (GB-PFZ) during ageing, yet there is no conclusive explanation due to the simultaneous appearance of the two in GB-PFZ. In this study, the evolution of GB-PFZs and solute distributions in the vicinity of grain boundaries (GBs) were studied during the homogenisation of an Al–Cu–Mg–Mn alloy using transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results indicated that the evolution of GB-PFZ during homogenisation can be divided into the following three stages: Stage I, formation and recession of GB-PFZ; Stage II, absence of GB-PFZ, and Stage III, the reappearance and broadening of GB-PFZ. The results also revealed that the GB-PFZ in Stage I is totally devoid of solute depletion and its formation can be attributed to vacancy depletion alone. The GB-PFZ at Stage III solely caused by solute depletion and excludes vacancy depletion.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51405153 and 51475162) and by funds from the Major State Basic Research Projects of China (Grant No. 2012CB619506). We also thank Dr L.X. Wang and S.C. Li for their helpful discussion about this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunan Provincial Key Defense Laboratory of High Temperature Wear-Resisting Materials and Preparation Technology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, People’s Republic of China

    Y. Q. Chen, S. W. Tang, W. H. Liu & C. P. Tang

  2. Advanced Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, People’s Republic of China

    S. P. Pan

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, People’s Republic of China

    F. Y. Xu

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  1. Y. Q. Chen
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Correspondence to Y. Q. Chen.

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Chen, Y.Q., Pan, S.P., Tang, S.W. et al. Formation mechanisms and evolution of precipitate-free zones at grain boundaries in an Al–Cu–Mg–Mn alloy during homogenisation. J Mater Sci 51, 7780–7792 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-016-0062-x

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