Kinetics of spinodal decomposition, metastable ordering, and discontinuous precipitation in Cu‑15Ni‑8Sn

Hogg JM, Vollhüter J, Church NL, Andersson AM, Dejoie C, Collins DM, Neumeier S, Stone HJ (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Journal of Alloys and Compounds Elsevier

Book Volume: 1042

Article Number: 183926

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.183926

Abstract

Cu‑15Ni‑8Sn (wt%) undergoes multiple concurrent phase transformations during ageing, which strongly influence its mechanical properties. Here, high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction is utilised to study the microstructural changes that occur during ageing at 395 °C. Diffraction signals associated with spinodal decomposition, metastable ordering to form γ′‑L12 and γ″‑D022 precipitates, and discontinuous precipitation of γ‑D03 and δ‑D0a phases are identified and their temporal evolution monitored. Quantitative analyses of the diffraction data reveal that the characteristic wavelength of the spinodal microstructure exhibits a power‑law time dependence, consistent with the Lifshitz‑Slyozov‑Wagner (LSW) theory of particle coarsening. Precipitation of γ″ is observed to precede that of γ′, while γ is progressively replaced by δ in the later stages of ageing. The total volume fraction of discontinuous precipitation is well described by the Avrami model for nucleation and growth. Asymmetric diffraction peak profiles observed in the unaged condition are attributed to coherency strains arising from quenched‑in elemental clustering, as detected by atom probe tomography. Collectively, these findings offer insights into the interplay between spinodal decomposition, metastable ordering, and discontinuous precipitation in this alloy.

Authors with CRIS profile

Jan Vollhüter Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Allgemeine Werkstoffeigenschaften) Steffen Neumeier Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Allgemeine Werkstoffeigenschaften)

Involved external institutions

University of Cambridge GB United Kingdom (GB) European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Hogg, J.M., Vollhüter, J., Church, N.L., Andersson, A.M., Dejoie, C., Collins, D.M.,... Stone, H.J. (2025). Kinetics of spinodal decomposition, metastable ordering, and discontinuous precipitation in Cu‑15Ni‑8Sn. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 1042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.183926

MLA:

Hogg, J. M., et al. "Kinetics of spinodal decomposition, metastable ordering, and discontinuous precipitation in Cu‑15Ni‑8Sn." Journal of Alloys and Compounds 1042 (2025).

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