Characterization of Precipitation in Al-Zn-Mg-Cuand Li Containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys after Isothermal Aging

Abstract

The evolution of microstructure, precipitate size, volume fraction and integrated intensity of Al-8.0Zn-2.05Mg-1.76Cu (7055) and 7055-1.0Li alloys during isothermal ageing has been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-radiation small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). According to the TEM results, referring to the thermodynamic phase diagram, it was found that the addition of Li changed the types of the precipitates. T1 phase was observed in the 7055-1.0Li alloy besides the GP zones, η' and η with variant orientations with matrix, η1、η2 and η4. The super-lattice spots of L12 (Cu3Au) structure were probably due to the existence of Al3Li (δ') or Al3(Zr,Li). Furthermore, the precipitation sequence has been modified in Li-containing Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. The precipitate volume fraction derived from the integrated intensity for 7055 alloy reached an plateau except ageing at 120°C and the maximum was about 0.052-0.054 in the temperature range 140-160°C.