Title: Microstructural evolution and phase precipitation on ageing Al-Cu alloy

Authors: Rupa Dasgupta, Humaira Meenai, M.S. Yadav

Addresses: Regional Research Laboratory, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462 026, Madhya Pradesh, India. ' Regional Research Laboratory, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462 026, Madhya Pradesh, India. ' Regional Research Laboratory, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research), Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462 026, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: An Al-Cu based alloy was subjected to ageing at 210°C and 240°C for varying duration of time between 1 hours to 20 hours after quenching. The microstructure was studied using back scattered electron imaging in the scanning electron microscope to reveal presence of grain boundaries and its growth together with precipitation in the intergranular regions at prolonged ageing times. The constituents of the precipitates were studied by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX) to be non-stoichiometric compositions of Al, Cu and Fe. An attempt has been made to correlate the phase constituents with the microhardness to evolve an understanding into the precipitation behaviour and hardening of the alloy on ageing.

Keywords: Al-Cu alloys; ageing; microhardness; phase precipitation; energy dispersive x-ray analysis; EDAX; microstructural evolution; microstructure; precipitation behaviour; hardening; aluminium alloys.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2006.010623

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2006 Vol.1 No.2, pp.149 - 160

Published online: 09 Aug 2006 *

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