Microstructure and mechanical properties of a precipitation-strengthened Al-Zr-Sc-Er-Si alloy with a very small Sc content

As revealed by Atom Probe Tomography experiments, the newly developed low Sc alloy (Al-0.08Zr-0.014Sc-0.008Er-0.1Si at.%) achieves high hardness and improved coarsening resistance due to the formation of L12 (Al,Si)3(Sc,Er,Zr) nano-size precipitates, with a core enriched in Sc, Er and Si, surrounded by a nearly pure Al3Zr shell that slow down coarsening.334