Transient spinodal decomposition during annealing of rapidly solidified Al-10Sr alloy

Rapidly solidified Al-10Sr alloy ribbons were prepared using a single roller melt spinning technique. The annealing process of the rapidly solidified Al-10Sr alloy has been carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The microstructure of as-annealed Al-10Sr alloy has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The equilibrium AUSr phase is dominant in the as-annealed alloy. Besides the Al₄Sr phase, an AlSr phase is also found in the alloy isothermally annealed at 873 K for 90 min. Furthermore, a modulated nanostructure was observed in the alloy isothermally annealed at 873 K for 90 min. With further prolonged annealing time, however, the AlSr phase disappears in the as-annealed alloy. The dependence of particle size and growth rate on annealing time as well as the modulated structure shows that the occurrence of the AlSr phase may be due to the spinodal decomposition.