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The Influence of Trace Elements (In, Sn) on the Hardening Process of Al–Cu Alloys
Author(s) -
Lotter Frank,
Petschke Danny,
Staab Torsten E. M.,
Rohrmann Urban,
Schubert Thomas,
Sextl Gerhard,
Kieback Bernd
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201800038
Subject(s) - atom probe , nucleation , materials science , positron annihilation spectroscopy , microstructure , precipitation hardening , precipitation , dissolution , differential scanning calorimetry , vacancy defect , hardening (computing) , positron lifetime spectroscopy , metallurgy , positron annihilation , crystallography , positron , thermodynamics , chemistry , nanotechnology , nuclear physics , physics , layer (electronics) , meteorology , electron
Adding trace elements (Cd, In, Sn) to Al‐Cu‐based alloys can significantly improve their strength by the growth of small and finely distributed θ ′ precipitates. However, the underlying atomic mechanisms of their nucleation are so far only superficially understood. We follow the precipitation process, that is changes in the microstructure, by different methods: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), giving information on formation and dissolution of precipitates, 3D atom probe tomography (3DAP), giving information on size and density of precipitates and finally, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS), being sensitive especially to quenched‐in vacancies and their interaction with alloying elements. By the use of these complementary methods we obtain information on vacancy binding to the alloying elements and also on structure, kind and distribution of precipitates while correlating this with hardness measurements.