In situ SAXS study of dynamic precipitation during plastic deformation in age hardening aluminium alloys

In age hardening aluminium alloys, a high mechanical strength is obtained thanks to nanosized precipitates. Plastic deformation may strongly influence the precipitation kinetics leading to the desired microstructure. When straining and precipitation occur simultaneously, defined as dynamic precipitation, the interactions between deformation and precipitates are complex. Dynamic precipitation is sensitive to many parameters. Understanding the influence of all these parameters is necessary for implementing these alloys in applications where high strength and high formability are required.
The aim of the present project is to perform thermo-mechanical testing of precipitation hardened Al alloys in conditions of dynamic precipitation while measuring in-situ the precipitate evolution by SAXS for varying temperature, strain rate, initial precipitation state, and alloys. The goal of the work is to understand quantitatively the influence of each parameter on dynamic precipitation.