Process-controlled suppression of natural aging in an Al–Mg–Si alloy

In this study natural aging of an Al–Mg–Si alloy was investigated using various quenching processes. Atom probe tomography and electrical resistivity measurements reveal that solute clustering during natural aging can be suppressed by interrupting quenching for 120 s at 160 °C. This phenomenon is elucidated by simulating the excess vacancy annihilation. Reduced frozen-in excess vacancy concentration after the interrupted quenching can explain this experimentally observed suppression of natural aging.