Investigations of Dilute Copper and Germanium Precipitates in Aluminum by X-Ray Diffuse Scattering and TEM

Abstract

Dilute copper and germanium precipitates in slowly cooled aluminum single crystals are investigated by means of the diffuse X‐ray scattering method and transmission electron microscopy. The precipitates both in Al‐0.03 at% Cu and Al‐0.04 at% Ge alloys have cubic symmetry and their sizes are 7 to 20 nm and less than 1 nm, respectively. Particularly, it is suggested that the precipitates in Al‐Cu alloy have a composition of CuAl2 and consist of randomly oriented θ‐phase.