| Abstract: | We report on the structure of Ag precipitates in aged Al-Ag alloys using transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular detector darkfield scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Irregularly shaped small Ag particles of 1-2 nm dominate the alloy annealed at 140 degrees C for 10 h. These particles are present also within large precipitates (10-50 nm), which are often characterized by their {100} and {110} facets. In addition, atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM images revealed that Ag atoms tend to form {111} planar clusters, which criss-cross a colony of the irregularly shaped small Ag precipitates. |
