Precipitation hardening in the Cu–11 wt.%Al–10 wt.%Mn alloy with Ag addition

•Three reactions can occur during ageing of the Cu–11%Al–10%Mn–3%Ag alloy.•α phase nanoprecipitates are formed on ageing of the Cu–11%Al–10%Mn–3%Ag alloy.•The bainite precipitation is dominant in the Cu–11%Al–10%Mn alloy.•The presence of Ag increases the bainitic precipitation rate during ageing.

In this work the precipitation hardening in the Cu–11 wt.%Al–10 wt.%Mn alloy with Ag addition was studied using different experimental techniques. The results indicated that the hardening on ageing of the Cu–11 wt.%Al–10 wt.%Mn alloy is only due to bainite precipitation, while in the Cu–11 wt.%Al–10 wt.%Mn–3%Ag alloy three reactions in sequence can occur, including the bainite precipitation.