Dynamic grain growth and particle coarsening in Al–3.5Cu

Abstract Grain growth and particle coarsening in Al–3.5Cu at a temperature of 450 °C has been studied. Plastic deformation of this Zener-pinned system at strain rates of 10 −3 and 10 −4 s −1 led to an increase in both the grain growth and particle coarsening rates. The results of mechanical tests and metallography, including in situ studies, showed that the material was deforming primarily by intragranular slip. The dynamic grain growth was ascribed to the geometric effect of deformation on the Zener pinning, and the rate sensitivity of the growth to the dynamic particle coarsening. The principal effect of deformation on particle coarsening was concluded to be increased diffusion due to the dislocation content.