Process-controlled suppression of natural aging in an Al-Mg-Si alloy

In this study natural aging of an Al-Mg-Si alloy was investigated using various quenching processes. Atom probe tomography and electrical resistivity measurements reveal that solute clustering during natural aging can be suppressed by interrupting quenching for 120 s at 160 degrees C. This phenomenon is elucidated by simulating the excess vacancy annihilation. Reduced frozen-in excess vacancy concentration after the interrupted quenching can explain this experimentally observed suppression of natural aging. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.