The phase diagram of the Al–Cu–Zn ternary system was re-investigated experimentally. The current study was designed to contribute to a better description of those parts of the phase diagram, which are disputed in the current scientific literature. Mutual relations in the family of ternary intermetallic phases τ with cubic, rhombohedral and modulated structure at temperatures 400 °C and 550 °C were described. The phase relation between the γ and γ′ phases was studied at different temperatures. A two-phase field between γ and γ′ was observed below 400 °C, while the transition appears to be second order at higher temperatures. A vertical section between γ and γ′ phases in Cu–Zn and Al–Cu and four isothermal sections at 400 °C, 550 °C, 700 °C and 820 °C, respectively, were constructed.
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Introduction and literature review
Introduction
The Al–Cu–Zn ternary system has been investigated intensively in the past because of its technical importance for developing of light-weight alloys. However, several areas of the phase diagram are still not well understood and discussed intensively. Our work is focused on several doubtful regions of the phase diagram, which have not yet been satisfactorily resolved in the scientific literature, and on the divergent results from the experimental and theoretical publications [1, 2]. Major topics were the extensions of the γ and γ′ solid solution phases (with primitive and base-centered brass structures, respectively) and their mutual relation in the whole concentration and temperature range. We also studied the crystal structure and homogeneity ranges of the reported ternary phases τ and τ′ and constructed the isothermal sections of the phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn based on our new experimental results at 400 °C, 550 °C, 700 °C and 820 °C as well as the vertical section describing the mutual relation between γ and γ′ phases.
Literature review
Detailed literature reviews of all binary subsystems are described in recent literature. The experimental description of the Al–Cu phase diagram is published in our previous work [3]. Liang et al. [4] published a theoretical modeling of the Al–Cu phase diagram based on CALPHAD approach.
Anzeige
The Al–Zn binary phase diagram was assessed by Murray [5] and reported by Massalski [6]. Dinsdale et al. [7] have done the most recent theoretical modeling of the Al–Zn phase diagram, using the third generation of unary data. Theoretical modeling using the commonly used SGTE unary database [8] was published by Mathon et al. [9].
The assessed Cu–Zn binary phase diagram was published by Miodownik [10]. Liang et al. [11] published the most recent theoretically modeled binary phase diagram Cu–Zn. Figure 1a–c show redrawn binary experimental phase diagrams of the relevant subsystems.
Figure 1
Binary phase diagram of subsystem. a Al–Cu [3], b Al–Zn [6], c Cu–Zn [6]
×
Ghosh et al. [1] published a review of the experimental studies on the Al–Cu–Zn phase diagram available up to the year 2002. The experimental ternary phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn provided in [1] can be generally accepted except for the disagreement in the proposed phase equilibria between the γ and γ′ phases in comparison with the detailed analysis of existing experimental studies presented by Liang and Schmid-Fetzer [2]. These authors also published the most recent theoretical assessment based on this analysis in the same paper [2]. The main difference exists for mutual relation between the two closely related γ (Al4Cu9) and γ′(Cu5Zn8) phases and ternary τ and τ′ phases which will be discussed later. Most of the original references from the years 1905–2002 evaluated in Ghosh et al. [1] are not duplicated here.
Liang and Chang [12] published an overall thermodynamic description based on the CALPHAD approach. Two isothermal sections at 500 °C and 700 °C and a liquidus projection were published in this paper. Only one ternary intermetallic compound τ (approx. formula Al3Cu5Zn2) was theoretically modeled in this system by Liang and Chang [12]. Despite the fact that the experimentally established homogeneity range of the τ phase is highly temperature dependent, Liang and Schmid-Fetzer [2] modeled the τ phase as a linear phase with constant composition x(Zn) = 0.10. It was found earlier that the family of τ-phases appears in two modifications, cubic B2-type τ phase and a structurally related rhombohedral τ′ phase [13]. The τ′ phase was not included into Liang’s [2, 12] thermodynamic description because the composition range and thermal stability had not yet been reasonably determined.
Anzeige
The continuous solid solutions were modeled between some binary intermetallic phases in this system. The β (BCC_A2) phase exists in both Al–Cu and Cu–Zn systems and the continuous solid solution was modeled in [12]. The situation is more complicated in the case of the family of γ-phases. The γ phase region forms continuous solid solution in all experimentally assessed isothermal sections from 350 °C to 700 °C [1], from the Al–Cu side, where the low temperature γ′ (Al4Cu9) with the Pearson symbol cP52 exists in the binary Al–Cu system, to the Cu–Zn side where the γ (Cu5Zn8) phase with the Pearson symbol cI52 is stable.
The first results showing continuous γ phase region between Al–Cu and Cu–Zn binaries were presented by Bauer and Hansen [14]. They constructed several isothermal sections of Al–Cu–Zn ternary system in the Cu-rich corner in temperature range 410–800 °C. They proposed the continuous solid solution of the γ phase based on their experimental results. Koster and Moeller [13] constructed an isothermal section at 350 °C and confirmed the continuous solubility of the γ phase. Ashirimbetov et al. [15] reported two isothermal sections at 20 °C and 350 °C. The results showed the solid solubility of Al in γ at 20 °C and 350 °C are about 3.5 and 7.0 wt % (2.2 and 5.5 at.%), respectively, and solubility of Zn in γ′ at the same temperatures about 30 wt %. They detected a wide two-phase region between γ and γ′ at room temperature and 350 °C. They predicted that these two different γ phases might be miscible at higher temperatures where the high temperature modification of the γ phase exists in the Al–Cu system with the same crystal structure as in the Cu–Zn system. Also Liang and Schmid-Fetzer [2] did not accept the continuous solid solution between these crystallographically slightly different types of γ phases in their theoretical work. They described this decision in detail in the text of their paper. Nevertheless, they did not run any experimental study to confirm their conclusions.
With respect to previously mentioned result discrepancies, the aim of our study of the Al–Cu–Zn ternary system was to experimentally solve the question of solubilities between the γ′ and γ phases and a detailed crystallography and compositional and temperature stability of τ and τ′ phases.
The current available information for all solid phases of the system is summarized in Table 1. The abbreviated phase names in the form of Greek letters used in the text and phase diagrams are provided in the first column. Other common phase names used in the literature [1‐3] are shown in column 2. The Pearson symbol and structure type (columns 3 and 4) are taken from the Materials Science International Team (MSIT) report [16]. Temperature stability of binary phases is taken from relevant phase diagrams [3, 6]. Temperature stability of ternary phase τ (in our text is equal to τc) from Ghosh et al. [1] and ternary phases τi and τr (which corresponds to τ′) is based on our new results.
Table 1
Stable phases in Al–Cu-Zn ternary phase diagram and binary subsystems
Phase name [This work]
Common names
Pearson symbol
Structure prototype
T. range (°C)
α (Al)
FCC_A1, Al
cF4
Al
≤ 660.5
α (Cu)
FCC_A1, Cu
cF4
Cu
≤ 1083
α (Zn)
HCP_Zn, Zn
hP2
Mg
θ
θ, Al2Cu
tI12
Al2Cu
≤ 590.5
η
η1_AlCu, Eta HT
oP16/oC16
n.a.
573.9-624.5
η′
η2_AlCu, Eta LT
mC20
AlCu
≤ 574.5
ζ
ζ2, Al3Cu4-δ
Imm2
Al3Cu4−δ
373–597
ζ′
ζ1, Al3Cu4
Fmm2
Al3Cu4
min. 300–560.5
ε
ε1_AlCu, epsilon HT
cubic?
n.a.
959–846
ε′
ε2_AlCu, epsilon LT
hP4
NiAs
846–568.5
δ
δ, Al5Cu8
hR52
Al4Cu9 (r)
≤ 680
γ
γ0, γ_CuZn, γ_brass
cI52
Cu5Zn8
991–779.6
γ′
γ1, γ_AlCu, γ_D83
cP52
Al4Cu9
≤ 873.5
β
BCC_A2 (AlCu)
cI2
W
1052–566.7
α’
α2_AlCu, alpha_LT
n. a.
super structure based on TiAl3
≤ 360
β’
BCC_B2, CuZn
cP2
CsCl
≤ 468
δ1
CuZn3
hP3
CuZn3
700–560
ε1
CuZn4
hP2
Mg
≤598
τc
τ, Cu5Zn2Al3
cP2
CsCl
≤ 740
τi
Incommensurate τ phase
≤ 550*
τr
τ′
hR9
superstructure of CsCl
< 440*
*Based on constructed isothermal sections in this work
Experimental
The overall compositions of experimental samples were selected in order to address the unsolved questions in the experimental phase diagrams as mentioned above. Furthermore, it was our aim to determine complete isothermal phase equilibria in four isothermal sections. The prepared samples were analyzed and characterized by different static and dynamic analytical methods (SEM–EDX, DTA, XRD).
Sample preparation
Samples were prepared from pure elements of 5 N purity. Any oxide presented in the copper was reduced by flowing of the H2 gas at 300 °C for 3 h. The alloys were re-melted at 950 °C several times in evacuated quartz glass ampoules in order to improve the homogenization of the material. Long-term annealing of the samples was performed at selected temperatures on material sealed in evacuated quartz glass ampoules. To prevent reaction of liquid Al with the Si from material of quartz glass, the samples with high content of Al-rich liquid were placed inside the corundum crucibles. These crucibles with samples were sealed in evacuated quartz glass ampoules. A conventional muffle resistance furnace was used for the heat treatment. Samples were long-term annealed to achieve state close to the thermodynamic equilibrium. Annealing time was selected with respect to annealing temperature. For the annealing temperature closer to the melting temperature, shorter annealing time is sufficient. Annealing was terminated by quenching of the samples into cold water from their annealing temperatures, and sample was prepared for further investigations. Annealing times and temperatures are given in Table 2 together with experimental results.
Table 2
Chemical composition of the long-term annealed representative sample
T [°C]_No.
Annealing time [h]
Overall composition (at. %)
Coexist. phases
Phase 1 (at. %)
Phase 2 (at. %)
Phase 3 (at. %)
Al
Cu
Zn
Al
Cu
Zn
Al
Cu
Zn
Al
Cu
Zn
300_1
700
14.3
48.8
36.9
γ + γ′
10.5
44.2
45.3
21.0
53.5
25.5
–
–
–
325_1
700
15.1
48.6
36.3
γ + γ′
11.0
45.1
43.9
20.1
53.2
26.7
–
–
–
350_1
700
14.9
48.2
36.9
γ + γ′
11.4
47.0
41.6
18.5
52.4
29.1
–
–
–
375_1
700
16.9
50.8
32.3
γ + γ′
12.2
46.7
41.1
17.8
52.4
29.8
–
–
–
400_1
648
21.0
39.0
40.0
τc+ ε1
29.9
46.7
23.4
17.9
36.4
45.7
–
–
–
400_2
648
42.4
52.3
5.3
ζ + η′
45.3
51.7
3.0
41.9
52.0
6.1
–
–
–
400_3
648
14.3
61.6
24.1
γ′ + β’
22.2
61.7
16.1
10.9
61.8
27.3
–
–
–
400_4
648
53.6
42.5
3.9
η′+ τr+ θ
47.8
50.2
2.0
55.3
40.0
4.7
65.4
34.0
0.6
400_5
648
47.6
47.7
4.8
η′+ τr
46.59
49.61
3.80
53.1
41.0
5.9
–
–
–
400_6
648
26.1
34.8
39.1
τi + ε1
42.3
42.6
15.1
13.3
30.3
56.4
–
–
–
400_7
648
18.6
42.9
38.5
τc + γ + ε1
25.6
49.1
25.3
15.7
44.4
39.9
15.4
36.8
47.8
400_8
648
32.8
47.8
19.4
τc
32.8
47.8
19.4
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_9
648
37.4
46.0
16.6
τi
37.4
46.0
16.6
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_10
648
42.4
44.1
13.5
τi
42.4
44.1
13.5
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_11
625
48.4
41.7
9.9
τr
48.4
41.7
9.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_12
625
29.1
57.5
13.4
δ + τc
29.4
59.3
11.3
28.4
50.9
20.7
–
–
–
400_13
625
38.6
55.8
5.6
δ + ζ′
35.8
59.8
4.4
41.0
52.5
6.5
–
–
–
400_14
625
15.8
49.7
34.5
γ + γ′
15.8
49.2
35.0
17.4
51.0
31.6
–
–
–
400_15
625
13.8
48.2
38.0
γ
13.8
48.2
38.0
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_16
625
11.8
46.3
41.9
γ
11.8
46.3
41.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_17
612
16.4
51.6
32.0
γ′
16.4
51.6
32.0
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_18
612
42.9
48.3
8.8
η′+ τr
42.9
49.6
7.5
44.7
43.8
11.5
–
–
–
400_19
612
38.2
50.7
11.1
ζ′+ τi+ δ
40.4
50.3
9.4
34.3
48.4
17.3
–
–
–
400_20
612
31.9
58.0
10.1
δ + τc
32.0
59.5
8.5
30.3
51.0
18.7
–
–
–
400_21
612
28.1
40.8
31.1
τi + ε1
35.6
46.1
18.3
13.4
32.0
54.6
–
–
–
400_22
612
9.8
36.6
53.6
γ + ε1
9.5
40.2
50.4
10.5
32.4
57.0
–
–
–
400_23
612
5.7
55.3
39.0
β
5.7
55.3
39.0
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_24
612
37.5
14.8
47.7
τr + L
51.1
40.2
8.7
35.0
8.6
56.4
–
–
–
400_25
660
29.4
21.8
48.8
τr + L+ε1
50.3
40.3
9.4
31.0
8.0
61.0
8.8
23.6
67.6
400_26
660
56.7
4.6
38.7
α (Al)
56.7
4.6
38.7
–
–
–
–
–
–
400_27
660
38.0
34.0
28.0
τr + ε1 + L
50.3
39.8
9.9
10.6
25.8
63.6
–
–
–
400_28
660
23.2
15.3
61.5
ε1 +L
9.96
23.12
66.92
32.3
8.1
59.6
–
–
–
400_29
660
6.1
34.3
59.6
γ + ε1
6.6
35.7
57.7
4.7
26.3
69.0
–
–
–
400_30
660
21.7
67.9
10.4
γ′ + α (Cu)
25.7
64.7
9.6
12.3
74.2
13.5
–
–
–
400_31
660
18.0
59.8
22.2
γ′ + β
20.3
59.6
20.1
10.7
59.1
30.2
–
–
–
400_32
660
14.4
52.1
33.5
γ′
14.4
52.1
33.5
–
–
–
400_33
660
17.0
50.2
32.8
γ + γ′
15.4
48.7
35.9
18.2
50.7
31.1
–
–
–
400_34
715
50.9
40.3
8.8
τr
50.9
40.3
8.8
–
–
–
400_35
715
74.8
18.8
6.4
θ + α (Al)
65.7
32.5
1.8
85.2
2.1
12.7
–
–
–
400_36
715
69.2
19.2
11.6
θ + α (Al)
65.7
31.7
2.6
78.8
3.1
18.1
–
–
–
400_37
715
26.6
6.3
67.1
L
26.5
6.3
67.2
–
–
–
400_38
715
18.6
53.7
27.7
γ′
18.6
53.7
27.7
–
–
–
400_39
715
63.8
18.0
18.2
θ + α (Al)
65.8
31.5
2.7
60.3
4.1
35.4
–
–
–
400_40
715
28.8
37.8
33.4
τi + ε1
40.2
43.5
16.3
13.3
31.6
55.1
–
–
–
400_41
715
59.4
20.9
19.7
θ + τr + α (Al)
65.8
31.9
2.3
53.5
38.7
7.8
54.0
4.7
41.3
400_42
680
51.1
25.1
23.8
τr + α (Al) + L
52.7
39.0
8.3
50.3
4.7
45.0
30.0
9.8
60.2
400_43
680
48.6
26.7
24.7
τr + α (Al) + L
51.7
39.9
8.4
48.7
4.6
46.7
30.3
8.5
61.2
400_44
680
34.1
54.8
11.1
δ + ζ′+ τc
32.8
60.2
7.0
38.9
51.5
9.6
32.0
50.7
17.3
400_45
680
3.5
8.3
88.2
ε1 + L
1.7
15.1
83.2
4.6
3.1
92.3
–
–
–
400_46
680
30.4
49.0
20.6
τc
30.4
49.0
20.6
–
–
–
400_47
680
45.4
43.6
11.0
τi
45.4
43.6
11.0
–
–
–
400_48
680
39.9
44.6
15.5
τi
39.8
44.7
15.5
–
–
–
400_49
680
35.0
46.1
18.9
τi
35.0
46.1
18.9
–
–
–
400_50
680
28.9
49.4
21.7
τc
28.9
49.4
21.7
–
–
–
450_1
500
15.9
50.9
33.2
γ/γ′
15.9
50.1
34.0
16.2
50.5
33.3
–
–
–
500_1
500
16.0
49.3
34.7
γ/γ′
15.3
52.2
32.5
–
–
–
550_1
840
32.5
55.2
12.3
γ′ + τc
31.9
59.1
9.0
32.8
53.0
14.2
–
–
–
550_2
840
29.5
55.5
15.0
γ′ + τc
29.3
57.5
13.2
30.3
52.1
17.6
–
–
–
550_3
840
21.7
55.4
22.9
γ′
21.7
55.4
22.9
–
–
–
550_4
840
10.5
55.8
33.7
β + γ′
8.3
58.5
33.2
11.7
54.5
33.8
–
–
–
550_5
840
36.0
56.1
7.9
δ + τi
35.4
58.6
6.0
36.3
53.4
10.3
–
–
–
550_6
840
31.8
41.0
27.2
τc+ L+ε1
33.9
46.7
19.4
43.4
30.9
25.7
26.1
42.5
31.4
550_7
840
5.9
39.8
54.3
γ
5.9
39.8
54.3
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_8
840
5.4
52.5
42.1
β + γ′
4.5
55.2
40.3
6.6
49.0
44.4
–
–
–
550_9
840
24.3
45.5
30.2
ε1+γ
24.3
45.5
30.2
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_10
840
4.5
65.3
30.2
α (Cu) + β
4.1
67.0
28.9
6.2
62.3
31.5
–
–
–
550_11
840
22.6
47.4
30.0
τc + γ + δ
26.6
50.0
23.4
19.2
48.6
32.2
23.9
45.4
30.7
550_12
420
23.7
69.9
6.4
β + γ′
20.4
72.6
7.0
27.6
67.0
5.4
–
–
–
550_13
420
20.2
65.9
13.9
β + γ′
25.1
63.5
11.4
16.2
67.6
16.2
–
–
–
550_14
420
10.2
71.3
18.5
α (Cu) + β
9.4
72.0
18.6
13.2
67.6
19.2
–
–
–
550_15
420
40.6
48.1
11.3
τi
40.6
48.1
11.3
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_16
420
35.1
48.4
16.5
τc
35.1
48.4
16.5
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_17
420
41.3
43.8
14.9
τi + L
40.6
44.4
15.0
58.7
29.5
11.8
–
–
–
550_18
420
27.5
47.1
25.4
τc + ε1
29.6
49.9
20.5
26.7
46.4
26.9
–
–
–
550_19
420
30.3
34.4
35.3
ε1 + L
25.3
42.5
32.2
36.9
23.7
39.4
–
–
–
550_20
420
41.6
47.8
10.6
τi
41.6
47.8
10.6
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_21
560
56.8
40.3
2.9
τr + θ
49.9
45.4
4.7
65.2
34.0
0.8
–
–
–
550_22
560
46.7
46.1
7.2
τi
46.7
46.1
7.2
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_23
560
37.4
51.9
10.7
τi
37.4
51.9
10.7
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_24
560
12.4
46.3
41.3
γ/γ′
12.4
46.3
41.3
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_25
560
9.5
50.1
40.4
γ
9.5
50.1
40.4
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_26
560
9.5
47.1
43.4
γ
9.4
47.2
43.4
–
–
–
–
–
–
550_27
560
24.7
73.9
1.4
α (Cu) + γ′
18.3
80.3
1.4
28.9
69.8
1.3
–
–
–
550_28
560
53.3
39.2
7.5
τi + L
47.1
45.5
7.4
62.5
29.6
7.9
–
–
–
550_29
635
25.8
32.3
41.9
ε1+ L
21.9
39.2
38.9
31.9
19.2
48.9
–
–
–
550_30
635
25.2
49.4
25.4
τc+ γ′
28.2
49.8
22.0
22.7
49.1
28.2
–
–
–
550_31
635
6.2
31.5
62.3
ε1+ γ
6.5
33.0
60.5
3.8
26.5
69.7
–
–
–
550_32
635
39.4
57.9
2.7
δ + ζ′
37.7
59.7
2.6
39.8
57.6
2.6
–
–
–
550_33
635
16.8
39.6
43.6
γ + δ1
16.6
41.2
42.2
17.1
39.2
43.7
–
–
–
550_34
635
42.6
54.5
2.9
ζ
42.6
54.5
2.9
–
–
–
550_35
635
16.4
40.3
43.3
γ + δ1
15.2
42.1
42.7
16.1
39.1
44.8
–
–
–
550_36
635
3.8
30.0
66.2
ε1+ γ
4.2
34.9
60.9
3.9
30.7
65.4
–
–
–
550_37
635
11.6
36.1
52.3
ε1+ γ
11.3
36.1
52.6
12.1
33.5
54.4
–
–
–
550_38
635
21.3
45.2
33.5
γ + δ + ε1
19.1
47.4
33.5
22.0
43.4
34.6
–
–
–
700-_1
570
40.26
57.87
1.87
ε′
40.26
57.87
1.87
–
–
–
700_2
570
38.4
56.8
4.8
γ′ + ε′
*
*
*
38.4
56.8
4.8
–
–
–
700_3
570
33.3
59.1
7.6
γ′ + ε′
33.3
59.1
7.6
*
*
*
–
–
–
700_4
570
32.8
56.8
10.4
γ′
32.8
56.8
10.4
–
–
–
700_5
570
30.4
56.9
12.7
γ + τc
29.7
59.5
10.8
30.8
56.3
12.9
–
–
–
700_6
570
27.9
57.5
14.6
γ + τc
27.7
57.7
14.6
*
*
*
–
–
–
700_7
570
24.4
55.7
19.9
γ
24.4
55.7
19.9
–
–
–
700_8
570
17.5
54.7
27.8
γ
17.5
54.7
27.8
–
–
–
–
–
–
700_9
450
35.5
58.4
6.1
γ′ + ε′
34.4
59.9
5.7
35.6
58.3
6.1
–
–
–
700_10
450
33.6
56.1
10.3
γ′ + τc
32.0
58.6
9.4
33.6
55.7
10.7
–
–
–
700_11
450
13.4
73.4
13.2
α (Cu) + β
12.9
73.6
13.5
16.0
70.5
13.5
–
–
–
700_12
450
12.5
57.1
30.4
β + γ
12.5
57.6
29.9
14.5
54.8
30.7
–
–
–
700_13
450
40.7
44.8
14.5
τc+ L
34.3
51.5
14.2
45.3
39.7
15.0
–
–
–
700_14
480
33.7
43.4
22.9
τc+ L
28.9
49.0
22.1
40.9
36.5
22.6
–
–
–
700_15
480
24.8
43.0
32.2
ε1+ L
24.6
42.8
32.6
33.3
28.7
38.0
–
–
–
700_16
480
16.3
35.2
48.5
ε1+ L
16.2
39.4
44.4
16.6
28.0
55.4
–
–
–
700_17
480
12.5
32.6
54.9
ε1+ L
13.0
35.6
51.4
12.6
22.3
65.1
–
–
–
700_18
480
8.1
28.2
63.7
ε1+ L
7.8
32.3
59.9
9.2
23.4
67.4
–
–
–
820_1
330
33.8
59.3
6.9
γ′ + ε
32.9
60.8
6.3
34.2
59.0
6.8
–
–
–
820_2
330
19.6
61.1
19.3
γ
19.6
61.1
19.3
–
–
–
–
–
–
820_3
330
36.5
60.3
3.2
γ′ + ε′
35.2
61.7
3.1
37.2
59.6
3.2
–
–
–
820_4
330
28.6
57.9
13.5
γ + L
27.7
59.1
13.2
29.4
54.9
15.7
–
–
–
820_5
330
24.8
52.6
22.6
γ + L
24.3
53.4
22.3
25.3
51.6
23.1
–
–
–
820_6
330
17.8
70.1
12.1
β
17.8
70.1
12.1
–
–
–
–
–
–
820_7
330
30.0
61.6
8.4
γ
30.0
61.6
8.4
–
–
–
–
–
–
820_8
330
24.8
71.0
4.2
β + γ
25.0
70.5
4.5
28.2
67.9
3.9
–
–
–
820_9
330
17.9
64.9
17.2
β
17.9
64.9
17.2
–
–
–
–
–
–
820_10
330
15.2
76.9
7.9
α (Cu) +β
14.0
77.9
8.1
17.2
74.5
8.3
–
–
–
820_11
330
30.8
57.0
12.2
γ + L
30.8
57.6
11.6
32.2
54.1
13.7
–
–
–
820_12
330
9.1
68.6
22.3
α (Cu) +β
7.7
70.6
21.7
9.4
66.4
24.2
–
–
–
820_13
330
4.7
53.4
41.9
β
4.7
53.4
41.9
–
–
–
–
–
–
Coexisting phases found by XRD are in italic font. Coexisting phases established from their compositions are in standard font. * composition has not been measured
Experimental phase diagram investigation
A combination of dynamic and static methods was used for the investigation of the phase diagram. Phase equilibria, microstructure and chemical analysis of phases and overall compositions were performed by using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX), employing either a Zeiss Supra 55 VP instrument equipped with an energy dispersive detector for quantitative analysis or a similarly equipped SEM JEOL JSM-6460. Identification of phases present in the long-term annealed samples was achieved using X-ray powder diffraction. The Bruker D8 diffractometer equipped with a high-speed position sensitive (PSD) detector (Lynxeye) was used in the θ/2θ reflection setting. Rietveld refinements of selected diffraction patterns were performed with the Topas software [17]. Annealing temperature of the sample, overall composition, coexisting phases and phase compositions of the concrete phases in the equilibrium are listed in Table 2. Annealing temperature and number of the sample are listed in column 1, and the annealing time is shown in column 2. Column 3 shows the overall composition measured by SEM–EDX area scans. Coexisting phases stable in the samples are listed in column 4; columns 5-7 show the composition of equilibrium phases existing in the samples measured by SEM–EDX in same order as the phases are mentioned in column 4.
Phase transition temperatures were measured using a high-temperature DTA (NETZSCH Pegasus 404 C) with samples placed in closed and evacuated quartz glass DTA ampoules. Closed ampoules were used to limit uncontrolled Zn evaporation during the measurement and contamination of the inner parts of the instrument. The DTA was calibrated using a set of pure metal standards having well-defined melting temperatures (Sn, Al, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au). Calibration was carried out under the same conditions as the experimental measurements. Three heating and cooling runs were performed for each sample; the thermal effects during the first heating run were not taken into account. Thermal analysis results for four samples situated in the section γ′ - γ are listed in Table 3.
Table 3
Temperature of phase transitions measured by DTA
T [°C]_No.
Nominal comp. (at.%)
Thermal effects (heating) (°C)
Liquidus
Solidus
Transition
γ ↔ γ′
other transitions
Al
Cu
Zn
400_38
18.6
53.7
27.7
940.7
903.8
569.1
550_3
21.7
55.4
22.9
952.2
903.6
622.2
270.2
700_6
27.9
57.5
14.6
955.0
892.0
727.8
700_4
32.8
56.8
10.4
*
*
826.9
641.9
*Has not been measured
Results and discussion
By combining all experimental results listed in Tables 2 and 3, it was possible to draw complete isothermal sections of ternary phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn at 400 °C, 550 °C, 700 °C and 820 °C. These sections are presented in Fig. 2. The shape of the phase boundaries and phase fields not defined by our own samples was drawn based on information from binary subsystems, phase rules and data published by Ghosh et al. [1].
Figure 2
Isothermal sections of the Al–Cu–Zn experimental phase diagram at a 400 °C, b 550 °C, c 700 °C, d 820 °C. Overall compositions of selected samples are represented by several symbols. Stars represent the samples located in the single-phase field. Squares are the overall composition of the samples containing two phases in equilibrium. Compositions of each phase and relevant tie lines are not shown as the figure would be very difficult to read. Triangles represent the overall composition of the samples containing three phases in equilibrium. Phase compositions are defined by the corner of the tie triangle
×
Our results generally agree well with the older phase diagrams published by Ghosh et al. [1], and the theoretical phase diagram published by Liang et al. [2], but contains some additional clarification and improvement of areas, which were not investigated in detail in the previous studies.
Isothermal section at 400 °C
The isothermal section of phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn at 400 °C is shown in Fig. 2a. The ternary phase field τ exhibits a long line-shaped homogeneity range between the approximate compositions Al29Cu49Zn22 and Al48Cu42Zn10. In this area, we found at least three structural modifications (cubic form τc, (presumably) incommensurate modification τi and rhombohedral τr). The structural details are described in detail in the following paragraph. The Zn-poor region of the isothermal section shows equilibria of the τ-phase family with various binary Al–Cu compounds (phases θ, η′, ζ, ζ′, δ). The Al–Cu binary compounds in this central region show limited solubility of Zn. The solubility of Zn in the θ-phase is about 1 at.%. The phases η′, ζ, ζ′ show solubility of Zn about 5 at.% and δ phase about 10 at.%. γ′ phase has highest solubility of Zn up to 35 at.% of Zn. Based on binary phase diagram Cu–Zn, the ordered phase β’ is stable at 400 °C. Solubility of Al is up to 10%. The γ phase and ε1 phase have similar solubility of almost 20 at.% of Al. Figure 3 shows the microstructure of the two-phase sample ε1 + τc. The liquid phase is stable around the binary eutectic point in Al–Zn and extends toward the more Al-rich compositions in the ternary with a solubility for Cu up to 5 at.%. The solubility of Cu in α (Al) solid solution increases with increasing Zn content reaches up to 5 at.%. The microstructure of the α (Al) phase in the two-phase field α (Al) + θ is not homogeneous (Fig. 4) due to the fact that the annealed samples go through the miscibility gap of α (Al) phase, and it decomposed to two α (Al) phases according the Al–Zn binary phase diagram (Fig. 1b).
Figure 3
Microstructure of the sample 400_1 in BSE mode consist of ε1 and τc phases
Figure 4
Microstructure of the sample 400_39 in BSE mode consist of θ and α (Al) phases
×
×
The τ-phase
As mentioned above, the composition area of the τ-phase is crystallographically complex. Originally, two different modifications of the phase were reported in the literature [18]: τ with CsCl-type structure and τ′ with a closely related rhombohedral structure space group R-3 m, Pearson symbol hR30. In the latter structure, six atomic sites are present, of which three being occupied by the Cs atoms and three by the Cl in specific sublattices of B2. Distortions from the ideal cubic coordination CN = 14 (8 + 6) are only small. Our detailed evaluation of the powder patterns of single-phase samples in the 400 °C isothermal section yielded the following results: The cubic B2 structure was found in samples situated at the Cu- and Zn-rich end of the homogeneity range (τc), while the rhombohedral structure was found at the opposite end of the homogeneity range (τr). The intermediate composition range, here designated as (τi), could not be refined properly, although all samples were single phase according to SEM results. In this area, additional superstructure reflexes were observed which could not be indexed with any reasonable set of cell parameters. Position and intensity of superstructure reflexes varied continuously with the composition, but the number of observed superstructure reflexes increased with decreasing Cu content. This behavior leads to the conclusion that this intermediate area probably contains an incommensurately modulated crystal structure related to both, the B2 structure and its rhombohedral counterpart. It is not clear if the different phase regions τc, τi and τr are separated by two-phase fields, however, in spite of the large number of samples investigated in this area, it was not possible to identify any composition gap in the phases field. Consequently, the different areas are only separated by dashed lines in Fig. 2a. XRD patterns of some selected samples containing the family of τ phases are shown in comparison in Fig. 5.
Figure 5
XRD patterns of the Al–Cu–Zn alloy containing τ phase. a whole measured range, b central part of the pattern. Specific peaks of τi phase are circled by ellipse. Specific peaks of τr phase are circled by square. Individual patterns were shifted on Y axe to better visualization. Overall compositions of the samples are following: a: 28.9 at.% Al–Cu-21.7 at.% Zn (τc); b: 32.8 at.% Al–Cu-19.4 at.% Zn (τc); c: 35.0 at.% Al–Cu-18.9 at.% Zn (τi); d: 39.9 at.% Al–Cu-15.5 at.% Zn (τi); e 45.4 at.% Al–Cu-11.0 at.% Zn (τi); f 48.4 at.% Al–Cu-9.9 at.% Zn (τr)
×
Samples containing τc and τr were further investigated by Rietveld refinement in order to reveal the site occupations. For τc, a site occupation model allowing vacancies on the Cu site and Al/Zn substitution on the Al site yielded excellent agreement with the sample composition obtained by EDX measurements (Table 4). This defect mechanism is well in line with other nonstoichiometric B2 intermetallics like e.g., NiAl showing vacancies on the transition metal site [19].
Table 4
Comparison of phase compositions for τc and τr determined by Rietveld refinements and EDX
Sample
Phase
Method
at.% Al
at.% Cu
at.% Zn
400_13
τc
EDX
32.7
47.8
19.5
Rietveld
29.9
48.5
21.6
400_46
τc
EDX
30.4
49.0
20.6
Rietveld
31.6
49.0
19.4
400_86
τc
EDX
28.9
49.5
21.6
Rietveld
28.8
49.5
21.7
400_11
τr
EDX
48.4
41.7
9.9
Rietveld
54.2
40.0
5.8
400_34
τr
EDX
50.9
40.3
8.8
Rietveld
54.9
39.8
5.3
The rhombohedral structure is much more complicated, so site occupation refinements were more demanding. Table 5 summarizes the refinement results for sample 400_34 in the single-phase region τr. Free refinement of Cu occupation factors yielded the two fully occupied positions Cu1 and Cu2, while the occupation of Cu3 is only 0.15. The position Al2 is fully occupied by Al, while the two positions Al1 and Al3 show partial substitution with Zn. The resulting calculated overall composition based on Rietveld refinement is in reasonable agreement with results from EDX concentration measurements; a second sample in the τr region yielded comparable results (Table 4).
Table 5
Crystallographic parameters for the phase τr in sample 400_34 obtained by Rietveld refinement
Space group R-3 m, Pearson symbol hR30
a = 4.126569(18) Å, c = 25.19380(15) Å
Site
Wyckoff Pos.
x
y
z
Occupation
Beq
Cu1
3a
1/3
2/3
1/8
Cu: 1.00(14)
0.878(30)
Cu2
6c
2/3
1/3
0.030544(50)
Cu: 1.00(14)
0.878(30)
Cu3
6c
0
0
0.10673(35)
Cu: 0.153(20)
0.878(30)
Al1
6c
1/3
2/3
0.06919(12)
Al: 0.90(11)
Zn: 0.10(11)
0.678(94)
Al2
6c
2/3
1/3
0.132822(92)
Al: 1.000(94)
Zn: 0.000(94)
0.678(94)
Al3
3a
0
0
0
Al: 0.76(13)
Zn: 0.24(13)
0.678(94)
Isothermal section at 550 °C
The isothermal section of phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn at temperature 550 °C is shown in Fig. 2b. At this temperature, only τC and τi were identified—the rhombohedral structural modification was not observed. The pseudo-ternary phase δ1 is found at 550 °C in equilibrium with γ (Fig. 6). Thus, the binary δ1 phase in the Cu–Zn system is stabilized toward lower temperatures by the addition of Al. Binary Al–Cu compounds (phases θ, η′, ζ, ζ′, δ) from the central part of the binary phase diagram are in equilibrium with the τ-phase family with only limited solubility of Zn. This part of the phase diagram is quite complex and phase relations drawn in Fig. 2b are based on diagrams published by Ghosh et al. [1]. The θ-phase shows solubility of Zn about 1 at.%. The phases η′, ζ, ζ′, δ show solubility of Zn about 5 at.%. The γ′ phase is stable up to 30 at.% of Zn. At this concentration, a second-order transition between the γ and γ′ phases exists. Details of evaluation are discussed together with the vertical section in "The γ/γ′ phase field" section. The disordered phase β is stable at 550 °C, and it shows high solubility of Al up to 20 at.%. ε1 phase has very high solubility at almost 30 at.% of Al, close to the ternary τc. Figure 7 shows the microstructure of a sample in the two-phase field τc + ε1. The liquid phase is stable from Al–Zn binary phase diagram up to 30 at.% of Cu, and it is connected to the eutectic point of the Al–Cu system.
Figure 6
Microstructure of the sample 550_35 in BSE mode consists of γ and δ1 phases
Figure 7
Microstructure of the sample 550_18 in BSE mode consists of ε1 and τc phases
×
×
Isothermal section at 700 °C
The isothermal section of phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn at 700 °C is presented in Fig. 2c. At this temperature, the cubic modification of τ phase is the only remaining modification. Figure 8 shows a micrograph of the two-phase field τc + L. The liquid phase is stable from Cu-80Zn to Al-40Cu and covers the whole Cu poor concentration range. Pseudo-ternary ε1 was found stable between γ and the liquid phase. Phase ε′ has a solubility up to 5 at.% of Zn close to the phase τc. The second-order transition between γ and γ′ is found around 20 at.% Zn. The β phase exhibits a complete solubility from Al–Cu to Cu–Zn. Figure 9 shows β phase in equilibrium with γ phase.
Figure 8
Microstructure of the sample 700_14 in BSE mode consists of liquid and τc phases
Figure 9
Microstructure of the sample 700_12 in BSE mode consists of β and γ phases
×
×
Isothermal section at 820 °C
The isothermal section of phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn at 820 °C is presented in Fig. 2d. The temperature of 820 °C was chosen because at this temperature the γ phase is stable in Al–Cu as well as in the Cu–Zn phase diagram. Figure 10 shows the microstructure of a γ + L equilibrium. Full mutual solubility between the two binary γ phases has been expected and was confirmed. On Al-rich part of γ-family phase field was found γ′ phase with very low solubility, this is in agreement with binary Al–Cu phase diagram. We did not find any ternary or pseudo-ternary phase stable at 820 °C. The ε′ phase shows solubility of Zn up to 15 at.%, and it is shown in equilibrium with γ′ in Fig. 11.
Figure 10
Microstructure of the sample 820_11 in BSE mode consists of liquid and γ phases
Figure 11
Microstructure of the sample 820_1 in BSE mode consists of ε′ and γ′ phases
×
×
The γ/γ′ phase field
One of the major goals of the current study was to define the phase equilibrium relations between γ (cI52) and γ′ (cP52). As mentioned in the previous sections, a small two-phase field γ + γ′ was found at 400 °C, while two different structures were identified in different samples at 550 °C and 700 °C (see detailed description below), but no two-phase field was found. In order to define the γ + γ′ two-phase field better, a set of additional samples with composition close to the 15 at.% Al-49 at.% Cu–Zn was prepared and long-term annealed at different temperatures at and below 400 °C. Samples annealed at the temperatures of 300 °C, 325 °C, 350 °C, 375 °C and 400 °C show well-crystallized and well-separated two phases γ + γ′ in equilibrium (see microstructure on Fig. 12a and XRD pattern Fig. 13a). In contrast to this, samples 15.9 at.% Al-50.9 at.% Cu–Zn annealed at 450 °C, 14.4 at.% Al-48.9 at.% Cu–Zn annealed at 500 °C and 12.4Al-46.3Cu–Zn annealed at 550 °C contained large grains in different orientation (see microstructure on Fig. 12b), but were found to be homogeneous in terms of composition. Their XRD patterns (see e.g., Fig. 13b) showed well-defined diffraction lines of the primitive structure of γ′ in combination with a significant broadening of the basis of all lines fulfilling the reflection conditions for the base-centered structure. Consequently, it was possible to refine the pattern well by assuming an overlay of well-crystallized primitive γ′ (refined crystalline domain size 212 nm) and base-centered γ of poor crystalline quality (refined crystalline domain size 24 nm). This leads to the conclusion that these samples were actually single phase at the temperature of annealing and partially transformed during quenching.
Figure 12
Micrographs in BSE mode of a sample 350_1 with overall composition 14.9 at.% Al-48.2 at.% Cu–Zn that had been annealed at 350 °C containing well-crystallized phases γ + γ′ in equilibriums, b sample 450_1 (15.9 at.% Al-50.9 at.% Cu–Zn) annealed at 450 °C without two-phase structure
Figure 13
XRD pattern of the alloy Al–Cu–Zn containing. a well-crystallized phases γ and γ′ in the sample 14.4 at.% Al-48.8 at.% Cu–Zn annealed at 300 °C (300_1) and b poorly crystallized phase γ in the sample 15.9 at.% Al-50.9 at.% Cu–Zn annealed at 450 (450_1)
×
×
This conclusion was actually confirmed by plotting the results from all samples into a vertical section as shown in Fig. 14. The γ′ + γ two-phase samples are represented by the tie lines terminated by triangles with overall composition marked by cross symbol. The two-phase gap is getting smaller with increasing temperature and appears to close above 400 °C. Samples showing the characteristically broadened XRD pattern (open squares) are situated in the single-phase region but entered the two-phase field during quenching. Single-phase samples showing γ (diamond) or γ′ (full squares) without specific broadening did not show the characteristic line broadening.
Figure 14
Vertical section of the ternary phase diagram Al–Cu–Zn between Al–0.67Cu and Cu–0.62Zn
×
In order to confirm the proposed second-order transition line above approximately 440 °C shown as dashed line in Fig. 14, additional DTA experiments were performed on four samples situated in the respective composition area.
Measurements were performed under a permanent Ar flow of 50 ml min−1 and with heating and cooling rates of 5 °C min−1. Three runs were performed for each sample; the thermal effects during the first heating run were not taken into account. The temperature of the thermal effects used was thus the average value of the thermal effects of the second and third heating curves only. Small differences between the first and subsequent heating and cooling curves are caused by changes in the shape of the sample following initial melting. Temperature of phase transition in solid phase was evaluated as an onset of peak, liquidus was evaluated as a minimum of peak. The results of the DTA third heating and cooling curves of the sample with composition 21.7 at.% Al-55.4 at.% Cu–Zn is presented in Fig. 15. Signals correspond to the temperature of the second-order reaction γ ↔ γ′ at 622.2 °C (open circles on Fig. 14), to solidus temperature at 903.8 °C (filled circles on Fig. 14) and to the liquidus temperature at 952.2 °C (triangles on Fig. 14). Composition of the samples was checked after DTA measurement to ascertain that the sample did not react with the SiO2 material of the ampoules. Thermal analysis results are listed in Table 3, and the transition temperatures for the γ ↔ γ′ transition are shown as open circles in Fig. 14.
Figure 15
The third DTA heating and cooling curves of the 21.7 at.% Al-55.4 at.% Cu-Zn sample. Signals correspond to the temperature of the second-order reaction γ ↔ γ′ (632.4 °C) and to the liquidus temperature (952.2 °C). Measurement conditions: sample was placed in sealed evacuated quartz glass ampoule, inert atmosphere 5 N Ar 50 ml min−1, heating rate 5 °C min−1
×
The interpretation of the dashed line separating the γ and γ′ phase fields as second-order reaction γ ↔ γ′ is well in line with the observed DTA effects. It also agrees with experimental results from binary phase diagram Al–Cu, where authors [3, 20] proposed a second-order transition between the primitive and base-centered structure there.
Conclusions
Although the literature related to the Al–Cu–Zn phase diagram is numerous, some of the complex phase equilibria were not well solved. The current study was designed to contribute to a better understanding of those parts of the phase diagram that needed improvement and refinement. The experimental studies were carried out at temperatures 400 °C, 550 °C, 700 °C and 820 °C, and some additional measurements were done also at additional temperatures in the γ + γ′ phase region. This was achieved by a combination of standard methods: overall and phase compositions of samples were measured using SEM–EDX, the temperatures of phase transitions by DTA measurements in evacuated quartz glass DTA ampoules. The crystal structures were identified by XRD.
The following main results were obtained in present study:
Mutual relationships of γ + γ′ phases were studied in whole concentration and temperature range. Independent two-phase field of γ + γ′ was observed up to 400 °C. At higher temperature, the phase transition γ ↔ γ′ is proposed to be second order.
An isopleth between the binary phases γ and γ′ was constructed
For the ternary phase, at 400 °C we found strongly temperature-dependent one phase fields containing phases with cubic CsCl-type structure (τc) and a related rhombohedral structure type (τr), respectively, and an intermediate composition range with apparently incommensurate modulation (τi). The rhombohedral structure type (τr) was not found at 550 °C and above. At 700 °C we only found the cubic structure modification (τr)
Isothermal sections at 400 °C, 550 °C, 700 °C and 820 °C were constructed
Acknowledgements
Open access funding provided by Austrian Science Fund (FWF). This study was funded by the Austrian Science Found (FWF) under the Lise-Meitner project M2293-N34. The authors thank Stephan Puchegger from the Department of Dynamic of Condensed Systems at the University of Vienna for the assistance with the SEM measurements and Adela Zemanova from Institute of Physics of Materials, The Czech Academy of Sciences for assistance with some DTA measurement.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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