Influence of Cu and Cr on the matrix decomposition of quenched Al-Zn-Mg alloy

The Inoue procedure is used to study the influence of Cr and Cu elements, jointly or individually, on the matrix decomposition of quenched Al-Zn-Mg alloys. The addition of copper and copper with chromium does not significantly change the limits of the temperatures of formation of Guinier-Preston zone and the range of the matrix decomposition. The control of the vacancy concentration in the alloys by different heat treatments and the addition of certain elements such as copper and chromium seems to play an important role in the nucleation rate and the kinetics of phase transformations.