https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap/2012120084
Differential scanning calorimetry analyses of Al-Cu-Zn alloys
LM2S, Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Badji-Mokhtar University, PB 12, Annaba 23000, Algeria
a e-mail: draissia@yahoo.fr
Received:
4
March
2012
Revised:
1
August
2012
Accepted:
6
August
2012
Published online:
1
October
2012
The effect of heat treatment on phase transformation and crystalline microstructure properties of ternary Al-Cu-Zn alloys made under nonequilibrium conditions was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry spectrometry (DSC), optical microscopy observations and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns analyses. A set of ternary Al-X wt.% Cu-X wt.%Zn alloys with nominal compositions X = 2, 8, 20 and 25 were rapidly solidified under vacuum by high-frequency magnetic induction melting process. It was found that DSC heating at temperatures below 500 °C leads to phase transformation with the development of new phases which were identified by XRD patterns analyses such as the presence at ambient temperature of the rhomboedric structure τ′-Al4Cu3Zn phase in equilibrium with the expected tetragonal θ-CuAl2 in Al matrix. Measured DSC crystallization enthalpies of occurring phase transformation were given. Optical microscopy observations reveal refined grains and homogeneous surface textures of the as-melted Al-Cu-Zn alloys.
© EDP Sciences, 2012
