Copper Aluminum Alloys
This Al-Cu phase diagram shown only goes up to ca 60%, by weight, of Copper.
and is “split” at around 54wt%Cu by a particular phase.
This "split" means that the
two parts of the diagram
must be considered
separately. The diagram
up to the 54% point is very
similar to the "standard"
phase diagram.
Intermetallic phases are
not named " or $, but are
assigned other Greek
letters (though there is no
strict convention for this).
Here the phase on the
right is named 2, but other
than its name it is dealt
with in exactly the same
way as a beta phase.
Cu-Al Phase Diagram
"
" + liquid
liquid
2 + liquid
" + 2
Cu2Al, 2
The eutectic composition is at 33%Cu/67%Al, and the Te is ca. 550 K.
A 25%Cu/75%Al composition is known as a hypoeutectic alloy
A 36%Cu/64%Al composition is correspondingly called hypereutectic
Micrographs: Eutectic Alloy
Micrographs are high-resolution microscope pictures which may be produced
by techniques such as reflect light microscopy (RLM, top), scanning electron
microscopy (SEM, bottom) or scanning transmission microscopy (STM).
As a liquid is cooled at the eutectic composition, the two
phases grow simultaneously as an interconnected
structure which forms the solid eutectic phase. The
phase has a lamellar structure, which consists of many
thin alternating layers of the two components.
The lamellar structure ensures that there are very small
diffusion fields head of the solid-liquid interface,
meaning that atoms do not travel over very significant
distances for the two phases to simultaneously form.
The RLM picture shows the co-operative formation of 2
and Al phases which form the eutectic lamellae. The
SEM picture shows an interlamellar spacing of about 1
µm, as well as some imperfections which form from
irregularities and disturbances during growth.
This specimen was made by unidirectional cooling and was metallographically
prepared (mounted, ground and polished) and etched in dilute NaOH which
stains the surface of the 2 phase brown/black while leaving the " phase
unattacked (appearing white).
Micrographs: Hypoeutectic
Light Microscopy
SEM
The RLM micrograph (top) of the 25%Cu/75%Al sample
shows primary Al dendrite arms (white). The dendrite
trunk has been intersected at an angle by the plane of
polishing to give the observed morphology.
Between the dendrites is the Al - CuAl2 eutectic. Initially
dendrites would have formed from the liquid, the regions
between the dendrite arms known as the mushy zone
transforming to a eutectic solid (L to Al + CuAl2). These
two phases form cooperatively as neighbouring lamellae
with the lateral diffusion of material across the growing
interface. The relative amounts of the two phases (Al
and 2) in the eutectic are determined by applying the
Lever Rule at the eutectic temperature.
Primary phases often form as dendrites.
These are solid structures forming from a
liquid, which solidify in a branched manner
because it is energetically favourable.
A dendrite will rarely form in a completely regular
manner. A diagram of such an idealised regular dendrite
is pictured above and to the right.
More Cu/Al Micrographs
The RLM micrograph (left) of the 36%Cu/64%Al sample,
just to the right of the eutectic (known as the hypereutectic)
shows primary dendrite formation from the 2
(CuAl2) phase. The remaining liquid transforms to the
eutectic at the eutectic temperature.
The RLM micrograph (right) of a 5%Cu/95%Al sample shows
microsegregation, and the two phases can not be resolved
microscopically. The solid is low in solute, resulting in large
“cored” dendrites, with the solute-rich liquid segregated in
between (perhaps of composition CuAl?)
Finally, the 4%Cu/96%Al sample (left) has been aged after
quenching to enable the growth of precipitates from a
supersaturated solid solution. The strength of the alloy has
been greatly improved by precipitation hardening. The “2”
phase is an intermetallic compound with a composition close
to CuAl2. The depletion of Cu near the boundaries to these
precipitates forms precipitation free zones (PFZ).
Si/Al Phase Diagram
Try to identify the phases, eutectic point, metling points of pure Al and Si, and
any other features on this diagram. Note that the Al has zero solid solubility
in the Si at all temperatures (i.e., it will not dissolve and form a solid solution).
Si/Al Phase Diagram, 2
There are two alloys we will consider:
1. Al-13wt%Si (slightly hypereutectic)
2. Al-13wt%Si-0.01%Na (doped with trace amounts of Na)
1. Al-13wt%Si
Alloy 1 will be a eutectic
mixture composed
primarily of phase ",
with a small amount of
hypereutectic Si
precipitated out into the
solid.
The RLM micrograph
shows coarse flakes of
Si contained in what
appears to be a nonlamellar
phase. The
flakes make the
material brittle, which is
undesirable. A strong
lamellar condition is
desired.
Si/Al Phase Diagram
Most Si/Al alloys are cast near this eutectic point, they are cheap to
manufacture; but cuboid Si flakes cause brittleness. Doping with 0.01% Na
alters the compositional and temperature of the eutectic point (red lines):
Alloy 2, which has the
same relative amounts of
Si and Al, now preciptates
in a hypoeutectic fashion.
A fibrous lamellar Si/Al
phase forms, which
contains dendrites of the
" phase instead of the
flaky, cuboid Si precipitate
which causes brittleness.
The addition of a ternary
element like Na can
complete alter the atomic
arrangements, the
microstructure of the
materials, and hence the
bulk observable properties
Why Phase Diagrams & Micrographs?
Microstructural changes strongly influence the engineering properties of an
alloy. The lamellar nature of the eutectic phase, for instance, impedes
dislocation movement through the alloy when stress is appled.
Therefore, if dislocations cannot move easily then the material will not yield until
a higher stress is applied, i.e., lamellar structure may increase the strength of
the alloy is increased.
By understanding how phase diagrams work, as well as the relationship
between the various parts of the phase diagram and the microstructure or
nanostructure, we can predict ways of refining alloys to give us the properties
we desire.
For more information, see the 59-240 animations page:
Southampton University (try the interactive phase diagram to visualize
micrographs): Check out the Cu/Al, Si/Al and Fe/C (steel) phase diagrams
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~pasr1/index.htm
University of Cambridge:
http://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/miclib/phase_diagrams.php
Denver University:
http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/phys/phase.htm