Direct Observation of Monolayer Zones in Al-wt 4% Cu

Abstract

Since the early works on GP zones and the model independently proposed by Preston and Guinier on the first steps of precipitation in supersaturated solid solution of aluminium containing a few percent of copper, many works have been performed to understand the structure of different stages in the sequence of precipitation.The scheme which is generally admitted can be drawn from a work by Phillips.In their original model Guinier and Preston analysed a GP zone as composed of a single (100) copperrich plane surrounded by aluminum atomic planes with a slightly shorter distance from the original plane than in the solid solution.From X-ray measurements it has also been shown that GP1 zones were not only copper monolayer zones. They could be up to a few atomic planes thick. Different models were proposed by Guinier, Gerold, Toman. Using synchrotron radiation, proposals have been recently made.