Thermal Analysis of Aluminum Alloys

Abstract

Thermal analysis is applied on aluminum alloys by researchers to investigate mainly phase transformations, while it is regularly used for quality control purposes in industry. Techniques like cooling curve analysis, differential thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and isothermal calorimetry are amongst those most frequently used by scientists and engineers. These techniques will be described, and a mathematical description of the results will be developed. State-of-the-art quantification methods applied on aluminum alloys will be presented and criticized based on specific examples taken from the literature.