Combinative hardening effects of precipitation in a commercial aged Al–Cu–Li–X alloy

The combinative effects of precipitates on microstructure and hardness of an Al–Cu–Li–X alloy (X=Mg, Zn, Mn, Zr) in artificial ageing of 165 °C were investigated by a transmission electron microscopy and hardness test. Results show that the hardness appears at regression in early ageing stage and increases rapidly during subsequent ageing of 16 h. Hardening effects of as-quenched sample are mainly attributed to β′ (Al3Zr) dispersoids, quenched-in vacancies and dislocations. Though most of the fine and uniform precipitates θ′ (Al2Cu), δ′ (Al3Li), σ (Al5Cu6Mg2) and GP zone came into being in ageing of 0.5 h, annihilation of quenched-in vacancies and reduction of dislocation were ascribed to the hardening regression at early stages of ageing. As further ageing is in progress, all precipitates including T1 (Al2CuLi), σ, δ′ and θ′ have appeared during the ageing of 16 h that follows, and their combinative hardening effects are responsible for the rapid hardness increase at peak-ageing.