The influence of tensile stress on grain and cell boundary precipitation in supersaturated Al-Zn alloys during creep

The results are presented of the optical microscopic and X-ray diffraction study of the stress-induced nucleation and growth of (Zn) precipitates at grain and cell boundaries (GB's and CB's) during uniaxial creep at 200 °C of supersaturated AlZn20 and AlZn30 alloys. The rate of precipitation is increased mainly owing to the modifying effect of tensile stress on diffusion processes in alloy samples during their anneal. The diffusion of Zn atoms toward GB's and CB's from adjacent regions of grains is accompanied during creep by diffusive flux of Zn along boundaries parallel or nearly parallel to the tensile creep axis toward boundaries with near to normal orientation to that axis. Enhanced precipitation of results then preferentially at the latter and is supressed at the former boundaries where even the dissolution of preexisting has been found during a later application of tensile stress. The stress-induced precipitation of at GB's gradually ceases with prolonged creep exposures due to the lengthening of duffusion paths of Zn atoms from grain interior to GB's.Dissolution of lamellae by their regress toward GB's and CB's is assisted with the stress-induced diffusion of Zn along epitaxial / lamellar interfaces. Copious precipitation of at the parts of GB's and/or CB's with near to normal orientation to the creep axis is then observed on account of Zn from dissolved lamellae. Creep strain also leads to the fragmentation of lamellae and thus also to breaking down of the paths for diffusion of Zn along / interfaces. Spheroidization of fragmented parts of lamellae is then observed. Spheroids of remain embedded within the former lamellar regions.Large creep strains and high strain rates observed on fine-grained alloy samples may be associated with an enhanced viscous GB sliding due to the stress-dependent flow of Zn along GB's and/or CB's.