Electron microscopic investigation of aging in the Cu–0.06% Zr alloy

Аннотация

The decomposition of supersaturated solid solution in the Cu–0.06 wt% Zr alloy has been investigated. Upon aging of the initially quenched alloy the homogeneous precipitation of particles is dominating. The decomposition begins from the precipitation of a metastable copper–zirconium phase, the particles of which have the shape of nanodimensional disks. An increase in the aging temperature results in the formation of coarser rodlike particles of the Cu₅Zr equilibrium phase. Aging of the deformed alloy is characterized by the predominance of the heterogeneous precipitation of particles at subboundaries and dislocations, and the decomposition begins at a lower temperature. The particle size is less by an order of magnitude than that in the quenched state. The precipitation of nanodimensional particles at dislocations retards the formation of recrystallization centers.