This paper presents two studies illustrating the possibilities of Small-Angle X-ray Scattering for characterising quantitatively the state of precipitation in aluminium alloys. In the first example, maps are presented, of precipitate size and volume fraction in the cross-section of friction stir welds of AA7449 alloy. It is shown that the influence of welding speed on the distribution of mechanical properties can be understood using this microstructural data. In the second example, the precipitation kinetics in an AI-Zr-Sc alloy is evaluated by in-situ small angle X-ray scattering. Evidence is given for the heterogeneous chemical structure of the Al-3(Zr,Sc) precipitates, consisting of a Zr-rich shell surrounding a Sc-rich core. It is shown that this particular distribution results in a very good resistance to coarsening of the precipitate microstructure.