In situ evaluation of dynamic precipitation during plastic straining of an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy

The coupling between precipitation and plasticity has been systematically investigated in an Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy using in situ small-angle X-ray scattering measurements during thermomechanical tests. Material pre-aged to two different initial precipitate conditions has been examined. Each pre-aged condition has been strained at 160 degrees C and we show that the plasticity induces an accelerated coarsening kinetics, which we characterize in terms of the evolution of the precipitate size. This acceleration is correlated with the degree of plastic strain, but does not depend markedly on strain rate. The experimental data strongly suggests that the accelerated kinetics is mainly linked with the accumulation of a supersaturation of vacancies during plastic flow that increases the effective diffusion constant. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.