An atomic resolution study of precipitates in an Al-Ge Alloy

Abstract

The difficulty of precipitating germanium in dilute aluminum-germanium alloys is due to a large difference in crystal structures (face-centered cubic and diamond cubic) accompanied by a substantial volume expansion of 36%. A great variety of precipitate morphologies and orientation relationships are observed. A frequently found morphology is that of <100> needles. By selected area diffraction and Moire fringes it has been established that <100> Al and <110> Ge are parallel along the needle axis. The typical aspect ratio of about 100 has made it difficult in the past to investigate the cross-sectional shape and internal structure of these needles, although some indications of internal twinning were found in plates. in the present work, the Berkeley Atomic Resolution Microscope was used to examine needles in cross section by imaging along the <110> Ge <100> Al needle axis.