Materials Science Forum, Vol.519-521, 1029-1034, 2006
On the origin of the enhanced creep resistance in underaged Al-Cu based alloys
It has recently been observed that the creep resistance of Al-Cu based precipitation hardened alloys may be enhanced through use of the underaged temper. We have treated this problem theoretically by considering the motion of a dislocation through a precipitation hardened structure and discuss the physical origin of the enhanced creep resistance in the underaged condition. The variation in expected creep resistance as a function of aging treatment is calculated and the possible generality of the experimental observations is considered.