Al-Li-Cu alloys combine high specific strength and high specific modulus and are potential candidates for aircraft structural applications. As part of an effort to optimize Al-Li-Cu alloys for specific applications, precipitation in these alloys was studied for a range of compositions, and the mechanical behavior was correlated with the microstructures.Alloys with nominal compositions of Al-4Cu-2Li-0.2Zr, Al-2.5Cu-2.5Li-0.2Zr, and Al-l.5Cu-2.5Li-0.5Mn were argon-atomized into powder at solidification rates ≈ 103°C/s. Powders were consolidated into bar stock by vacuum pressing and extruding at 400°C. Alloy specimens were solution annealed at 530°C and aged at temperatures up to 250°C, and the resultant precipitation was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).The low-temperature (≲100°C) precipitation behavior of the Al-4Cu-2Li-0.2Zr alloy is a combination of the separate precipitation behaviors of Al-Cu and Al-Li alloys. The age-hardening behavior at these temperatures is characteristic of Guinier-Preston (GP) zone formation, with additional strengthening resulting from the coherent precipitation of δ’ (Al3Li, Ll2 structure), the presence of which is revealed by the selected-area diffraction pattern (SADP) shown in Figure la.
Solid solution decomposition and Guinier-Preston zone formation in Al-Cu alloys: A kinetic theory with anisotropic interactions
