Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02234-6

Effect of trace additions of Sn on precipitation kinetics

and microstructural phases of Al–Cu–Mg alloys

Sanjib Banerjee1 · P. S. Robi2 · A. Srinivasan3 · Sanjib Gogoi1 ·

Sumit Bhowmick1

Received: 5 March 2022 / Accepted: 25 May 2022

© Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2022

Abstract
The precipitation and dissolution kinetics of cast and solutionized Al–6.2wt%Cu–
0.6wt%Mg alloys microalloyed with varying contents of Sn was investigated. Dif-
ferential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed from 50 to 550 °C at four
different heating rates. Exothermic peak within intermediate temperature range of
200–300 °C of DSC heating cycle represented the precipitation reaction. Endother-
mic drift at elevated temperatures corresponded to melting of alloy phases. Peak
temperatures increased with increase in heating rate, indicating precipitation reac-
tion to be kinetically controlled. The kinetic rate equation governing exothermic pre-
cipitation peaks was modelled using a new analytical technique. Activation energy
and kinetic parameters were determined for the alloys, and effect of Sn concentra-
tions was investigated. Functional forms of mole fraction transformed were opti-
mized. Predicted transformation rate calculated using the kinetic rate equation and
evaluated kinetic parameters, was successfully compared with experimental data
with fairly good accuracy. To identify possible precipitating crystalline phase(s),
X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed on age-hardened alloys. DSC and
XRD results were further corelated with microstructural characterization of mor-
phology and composition of different phases, as studied by SEM and EDS analysis.
Microalloying with Sn up to 0.06 wt% was observed to kinetically favor the precipi-
tation reaction, as evident from increased growth in θ-crystal size, increased volume
fraction of microstructural θ-phase, decrease in peak temperature and lower values
of activation energy. Trace additions of Sn revealed considerable potential to control
precipitation kinetics, activation energy, precipitating phases, and respective micro-
structural evolution of the investigated Al–Cu–Mg alloy system.

Keywords Aluminum alloys · Microalloying · Age-hardening · Precipitation

kinetics · Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) · Microstructure

* Sanjib Banerjee
sanjibb@tezu.ernet.in
Extended author information available on the last page of the article

13
Vol.:(0123456789)