Growth kinetics of cellular precipitation in a Mg–8.5Al–0.5Zn–0.2Mn (wt.%) alloy

Microstructural evolution and growth kinetics were studied in an isothermally aged Mg–8.5Al–0.5Zn–0.2Mn (wt.%) alloy by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Vickers hardness measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Specimens were solution-treated and then aged at 373, 473 and 573 K for different time period. The characterization results indicated the presence of both continuous and discontinuous precipitations of the Mg17Al12-γ phase in a Mg-rich matrix. The discontinuous or cellular precipitation was present with a lamellar structure, and the growth kinetics was evaluated using the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov equation analysis, which gives a time exponent close to 1. This value confirms that cellular precipitation takes place on the saturation sites corresponding to grain boundaries. In addition, the activation energy for cellular precipitation was determined to be about 64.6 kJ mol−1. This also indicates a grain boundary diffusion process. The variation of cellular spacing with temperature follows the behavior expected by Turnbull theory. The highest hardness peak corresponded to the lowest aging temperature and it is associated with a fine continuous precipitation; while the lowest hardness peak was detected at the highest aging temperature and it is attributed to the rapid coarsening process of both precipitations.

Research highlights▶ The growth kinetics of lamellar spacing follows the behavior predicted by Turnbull theory. ▶ The growth kinetics of cellular precipitation is a process controlled by grain boundary diffusion. ▶ The presence of two types of morphology for cellular precipitation depends on the aging temperature. ▶ The highest hardness peak is associated to a fine continuous precipitation at the lowest temperature. ▶ The lowest hardness is attributed to the fast coarsening process of both precipitations.