Coarsening of δ′ (Al₃Li) and composite precipitates in an Al-2.5% Li-0.15% Zr alloy

Abstract

The early stage coarsening behaviour of δ′ (Al₃Li) precipitates and composite precipitates, consisting of β′ (Al₃Zr) core enveloped by a δ′ shell, in an Al-2.5% Li-0.15% Zr alloy has been studied at 443, 473 and 503 K by conventional transmission electron microscopy using superlattice dark-field images. Coarsening kinetics of δ′ precipitates was found to exhibit considerable deviation from the t ^1/3 law corresponding to diffusion control at 473 and 503 K. This deviation may be explained either by the operation of a surface-reaction controlled coarsening mechanism represented by t ^1/2 law, or by the presence of a slower precoarsening stage preceding diffusion-controlled coarsening. The particle-size distributions of δ′ precipitates were not in accordance with either the earlier theoretical predictions or the normal distribution. They were symmetrical or slightly skewed to the left, and particle sizes twice the average were observed. The coarsening kinetics of composite precipitates, was found to be rather different from that of δ′; a diffusion model which yields t ^1/n law with n changing from 1/4 to 1/6 as the coarsening progresses, was predicted. The composite precipitates have exhibited quite a narrow and rather symmetrical size distribution.