Kinetics of discontinuous precipitation and dissolution in Cu–Ag alloys

Abstract

The kinetics of discontinuous precipitation and dissolution of the cellular precipitate have been studied in Cu-3 at.% Ag and Cu-4 at.% Ag alloys. The growth rates of the cells were measured using optical microscopy. The interlamellar spacings of the primary cells and compositions of the depleted matrix were measured using scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The Cu–Ag alloys were observed to decompose into a lamellar structure consisting of alternate lamellae of the α (Cu-rich) and β (Ag-rich) phases when a solid solution of the alloy was aged below the solvus temperature. The rod shaped morphology of the β phase dispersed in the matrix of α was observed at all temperatures. The primary cell growth data were analysed using the theories of Cahn, Hillert, Sundquist, Turnbull and Petermann and Hornbogen. From the diffusivity values, it has been shown that the growth of primary cells occurs by the diffusion of Ag along the grain boundaries. The results are consistent with the diffusivity values reported in the literature in the same temperature range. The discontinuous dissolution of the primary cells occurred above the solvus temperature as well as 30–40 K below it. The dissolution occurred primarily at the prior positions of grain boundaries as well as at the primary cells intersection, at least in the initial stages of dissolution. The discontinuous dissolution occurred by the diffusion of Ag along the interface boundary between the primary and dissolution cells. The diffusivity and mobility values obtained during dissolution are one order of magnitude smaller than those obtained for the discontinuous precipitation. This has been explained by volume diffusion ahead of the interface and not all of the free energy being used to drive the interface boundary.