Calorimetric Study with Uncertainty Analysis to Investigate the Precipitation Kinetics in a Nanostructured Al Composite

Abstract

Nanostructured Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy and boron carbide/Al-Zn-Mg-Cu composite powders are fabricated through cryomilling. η'-MgZn 2 precipitation in each material is characterized through differential scanning calorimetry. The activation energy of η' precipitation is derived through Kissinger analysis. The addition of boron carbide to nanostructured Al-Zn-Mg-Cu powder increases the onset and peak temperatures of η' precipitation, but do not significantly affect the activation energy. Further analysis of uncertainties in measurement indicates that weighted least squares linear regression is a more reliable method that supplements the use of differential scanning calorimetry as a method for rapid characterization of precipitation in materials.