HRTEM observation of the precipitates in Cu and Ag added Al-Mg-Si alloys

Abstract

It has been known that Cu- and Ag-added Al-1.0mass%Mg2Si alloys (Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy and Al-Mg-Si-Ag alloy) have higher hardness and elongation than those of Al-1.0mass%Mg2Si alloy. In this study, the aging behaviour of Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloy, Al-Mg-Si-Ag alloy and (Cu+Ag)-addition Al-1.0 mass% Mg2Si alloy has been investigated by hardness test and TEM observation. The Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Ag alloy has the fastest age-hardening rate in the early aging period and the finest microstructure at the peak hardness among three alloys. Therefore the microstructure of the precipitate in Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Ag alloy has been investigated by HRTEM observation to understand the effect of Cu and Ag addition on aging precipitation.