The initial rate of aging in Al-Cu base alloys has been experimentally derived assuming that experimental aging curves are expressed by an empirical formula, Δρ/ρ0=(1/b)ln{(a+bt
A)/a}, where Δρ is resistivity change, ρ0 as-quenched resistivity, t
A aging time, and a and b constants. This paper describes whether the above assumption is really adequate or not. The time required for up-quenching the specimen from -196°C to aging temperatures 0 to 40°C was unexpectedly prolonged because of the sharp decrease in up-quenching rate near the aging temperatures. This suggested that the aging curves generally drawn by repeated aging method were not so accurate particularly in their initial parts. On the other hand, even in the continuous aging method susceptible to a little influenc of up-quenching, the initial rate of aging could not be accurately obtained by use of the formular. When the aging curves artificially constructed so as to correspond to the above formula were examined, calucalated values of (dt/dρ) seemed to be approximated by (Δt/Δρ). But such approximation resulted in a considerable error in the value of a, especially in the aging curves having high initial rate. The accurate initial rate of aging appeared to be obtained in neither repeated nor continuous aging method so far as the above equation was applied for analysis of aging curves.
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