Stability of GP zones in plastically deformed Al-4Cu alloy

Abstract

AbstractIt is shown by differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy that extensive plastic deformation of Al-4Cu (wt-%) alloy following quenching causes fragmentation of GP zones to an extent which depends on strain. Subsequent continuous heating of samples causes two concurrent processes: dissolution of small and growth of large GP zones. The fragmentation after 33% strain is so extensive that no growth process was observed. The activation energy for dissolution of GP zones in unstrained and strained material is 126 ± 6 kJ mol−1 and about 100 kJ mol−1 respectively.