1981 Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages 232-239
The aging behavior of Al-(0.7-1.1)at%Mg-0.4at%Ge alloys subjected to normal aging and two-step aging was studied comparing with the previous results of Al-Mg-Si alloys. Nearly the same behavior as in the Al-Mg-Si alloy is found: (α+Mg2Ge) two phase alloy shows a following erecipitation sequence, solid solution →cluster→needle-shaped G.P. zone→rod-shaped intermediate phase→cube-shaped intermediate phase→plateshaped equilibrium phase; the alloy attain a maximum hardness in the state of G.P. zones. The maximum hardness value of the alloy step-aged (pre-aged at 20-150°C and finally aged at 175°C) is always lower than that normally aged. The negative effect of two-step aging is more marked in this alloy system. Discussions on the difference of the negative effect between both systems are given.