Microstrucure and Strengthening Of

A complete and detailed analysis of the microstructural development during ageing in an 8090 (Al-2.3Li-1.2Cu-1Mg-0.1Zr) alloy, an 8090/20wt%SiCp MMC, an Al-1.5Li-Cu-Mg MMC and an Al-Cu-Mg MMC (all with similar Cu and Mg contents) has been performed. Volume fractions of all precipitates relevant for precipitation strengthening of the alloys (δ' phase, S' phase and GPB zones) have been determined using a recently derived method based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The volume fractions have subsequently been successfully fitted using a novel model for transformation kinetics. The sizes of these precipitates have been analysed using newly derived expressions consistent with the latter model. As a result of dislocation generation around misfitting SiC particles the volume fractions of both GPB zones and S' phase depend strongly on the presence of these particles. Also the amount of Li present in the alloys influences the volume fractions of the phases significantly. The sizes of S' are similar for the four alloys.