Ageing Kinetics of Al.-4.7 % Cu Alloy. Dilatometric and DTA Studies

Abstract

Studies of transformation kinetics during ageing of Al-4.7 % Cu were performed with use of dilatometric and DTA methods. The dilatometric method was used for studies of isothermal ageing, DTA for studies of ageing during isochronal heating. In order to determine isothermal transformation kinetics the JMA (Johnson – Mehl – Avrami) equation was applied, for isochronal heating transformation kinetics Kissinger method was used. Ageing of Al- Cu alloys consist of precipitation processes and dissolution processes that overlap each other. These processes, during isothermal ageing were distinguished with help of the time exponent n of JMA equation that is very sensitive to change of the transformation mechanism. During isochronal ageing, precipitation processes produce heat, dissolution processes consume heat. That helps to distinguish them. Results obtained during isothermal studies were in agreement with isochronal heating studies. Activation energies for precipitation processes 324-530 K temperature range varied from about 50 kJ/mol to about 100 kJ/mole and complied with the values obtained before. For precipitation processes at 650- 735 K temperature range, activation energies varied from 226 to 300 kJ/mole. The results obtained were discussed with literature data.