Abnormally enhanced diamagnetism in Al-Zn-Mg alloys

Temperature and time dependences of magnetization of Al-1.0%Zn-4.2%Mg, Al-2.6%Zn-3.2%Mg, Al-4.1%Zn-1.1%Mg, and Al-5%Zn (at.%) alloys were measured in the range between 10 and 310 K after various periods of natural aging and peak-aged heat treatments. Enhanced diamagnetic contributions on the magnetization were observed for the as-quenched Al-Zn-Mg alloys for the first time. The enhanced diamagnetism observed in Al-2.6%Zn-3.2%Mg and Al-4.1%Zn-1.1%Mg were found to largely alter in natural aging, while that of Al-1.0%Zn-4.2%Mg little changed. After peak-aged heat treatments, the diamagnetism of Al-Zn-Mg was largely reduced. The binary Al-5%Zn showed neither enhanced diamagnetism nor natural aging effect on the magnetization. Isothermal time variations of magnetization of Al-Zn-Mg alloys at 300 K were found to be related with solute-vacancy clustering.