On the configuration of Guinier-Preston zones in Al-Ag and Al-Zn alloys

An experimental investigation of the short-range ordering in the spatial distribution of isotropic G.-P. zones in supersaturated solid solutions of Ag or Zn in Al is presented. The intensity distribution of the small-angle diffuse scattering can be satisfactorily explained by inter-zone X-ray interferences when using the data on metastable miscibility gaps determined by Gerold for Al-Ag and by Hillert for Al-Zn. The investigation was carried out for a wide interval of annealing temperatures on Al-Ag (6 at. % Ag) and on Al-Zn (11 at. % Zn) samples.The authors wish to express their gratitude to their colleagues of the Institute of Solid State Physics: J. Laek, C.Sc, for valuable discussions and for chemical analyses, V. íma for alloy preparations, and Z. iký for his assistance in the measurements and computations.