Fluctuation of the Solute Concentration in Al Rich Al-Zn Alloys

Several Al-Zn alloys containing 0.041-4.4 at % Zn were studied by means of measurements of electrical resistivity. The results obtained are as follows : (1) The electrical resistivity increases when the specimen is annealed at temperatures higher than the solvus temperature of the G.P. zones. The increase of the resistivity is due to the formation of fluctuation. (2) The electrical resistivity of the specimen containing fluctuation is dependent upon annealing temperature only and independent of quenching temperature. (3) The fluctuation is formed in very dilute alloys as 0.041 at % Zn at temperatures higher than the solvus temperature of the G.P. zones. (4) The formation energy of vacancy and the migration energy of the Zn atom in the alloys determined by the formation process of fluctuation are in good agreement with those by the formation process of G.P. zones. (5) In spite of the result (4), it seems that the fluctuation is not the same as the small G.P. zones which are observed in the early stage of aging.