Variant selection and the strengthening effect of S precipitates at dislocations in Al–Cu–Mg alloy

The heterogeneous precipitation of the S (Al2CuMg) phase along dislocations is investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy various configurations of the S precipitate group form according to the initial dislocation morphology and no more than two S variants coexist along a single dislocation line. The most favorable combination of two S variants is observed to be variants 1 and 4 (or variants 2 and 3), and the variant selection criterion for S precipitate with the classic orientation relationship is proved to be that the dislocation line direction lies in the habit plane of the precipitate. The contribution of S precipitate groups to strengthening is evaluated by comparing the difference in total system energy increment induced by precipitate loop and the equivalent number of Guinier–Preston–Bagaryatsky zones and discrete S particles during plastic deformation. The results show that the average size of the precipitate loops as well as other kinds of precipitate groups has an important influence on the final strengthening effect. By keeping the precipitate groups below a critical size and increasing their density, the strength and thermal stability of the alloy are expected to be improved.