Study of Decomposition of a Highly Supersaturated Solid Solution of a Granulated Alloy, Al-1, 5Cr-1, 5Zr,

The mechanism and kinetics of decomposition of a highly supersaturated solid solution in an alloy is of importance in stating the proper technology for producing materials from granules. The investigation has been performed on granules in a cast state and plastically worked by flattening, after annealing at different temperatures up to 680 C. The following tests were applied microscopy, micro-hardness, electron microscopy with the use of thin foils, electronic microprobe and x-rays. Softening occurs more readily in granules previous to deformation than in cast ones. The precipitated particles at lower temperatures are characterized by great dispersion. They are in intermetallic phases Al3Zr and Al7Cr. Electron microscopy showed that during annealing up to 250 C, there is a great density of dislocations. A hypothesis is presented concerning the structural changes occurring at heating the highly supersaturated solid solution of this alloy.