Solute clusters and chemistry in a Cu-Cr-Zr-Mg alloy during the early stage of aging

Solute clusters and chemistry in a Cu-Cr-Zr-Mg alloy during the early aging were investigated using atom probe tomography (APT). APT analysis reveals that significant dispersions of diffuse solute clusters formed during aging for 5 min at 450 °C. After aging for 4 h at 450 °C, the mean measured composition of solute clusters with a high number density is 73.57 Cu, 11.48 Cr, 1.56 Zr, 7.09 Fe, 2.16 Mg, and 3.69 Si (at %). The partitioning ratio of Cr increases with aging time, while those of Zr, Fe, Mg and Si decrease.