Three dimensional microstructural characterization of nanoscale precipitates in AA7075-T651 by focused ion beam (FIB) tomography

•Focused ion beam (FIB) tomography was used to characterize the microstructure of Al 7075 in three dimensions.•Analysis of grains and precipitates was performed in terms of volume, size, and morphology.•Precipitates at the grain boundaries have larger size and aspect ratio compared to the precipitates inside the grains.

The size and distribution of precipitates in Al 7075 alloys affects both the mechanical and corrosion behavior (including stress corrosion cracking and fatigue corrosion) of the alloy. Three dimensional (3D) quantitative microstructural analysis of Al 7075 in the peak aged condition (T651) allows for a better understanding of these behaviors. In this study, Focused ion beam (FIB) tomography was used to characterize the microstructure in three dimensions. Analysis of grains and precipitates was performed in terms of volume, size, and morphology. It was found that the precipitates at the grain boundaries are larger in size, higher in aspect ratios and maximum Feret diameter compared to the precipitates inside the grains, due to earlier nucleation of the precipitates at the grain boundaries. Our data on the precipitates at the interface between grains and Mg2Si inclusion show that the surfaces of inclusion (impurity) particles can serve as a location for heterogeneous nucleation of precipitates.