Modeling for the structure evolution of alloys of the Al-Cu-Mg system during natural ageing

Natural ageing in alloys of the Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Mg systems is investigated and modeled. To determine the kinetic parameters, a method for measuring the electrical resistance is applied as the basic method. With the use of the Avrami equation in the differential form, a model for the structure evolution (changes in the volume fraction of the Guinier-Preston zones (GPZs) and the depletion of the solid solution) and the change in the yield strength for the alloys during natural ageing is constructed. In the case of the Al-Cu-Mg ternary system, two types of zones are present (the GPZ and the Guinier-Preston-Bagaryatskii zone (GPBZ)). In this case, the dissociation of the oversaturated solid solution at room temperature is described by a set of differential equations. The accuracy of the constructed model of the dependence of the yield strength on the alloy composition and the natural ageing time is 6%, which is within the error of experimental determination for this parameter.