Small-angle X-ray scattering study of nanostructure evolution of β″ precipitates in Al-Mg-Si alloy

In situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy are employed to study the precipitation behavior of a naturally aged Al-Mg-Si alloy during artificial aging at 180 °C. The nanostructural evolution of the rod-like β″ precipitates with aging time is quantitatively and accurately determined from the SAXS analysis.