Atomic-resolution electron energy loss studies of precipitates in an Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Ag alloy

摘要

Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy has been used to determine the distribution of Cu and Ag atomic columns of precipitates in an Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Ag alloy. Cu columns were commonly part of C and Q' phases, with the atomic columns having large projected separations. Columns containing Ag were more tightly spaced, in areas lacking repeating unit cells and at incoherent precipitate-host lattice interfaces. Cu-rich and Ag-rich areas were not found to intermix.