The coarsening behavior of Ge precipitates in the matrix and near the precipitate-free zone (P.F.Z.) along the grain boundary in an Al-3.46wt% Ge alloy was electron microscopically investigated. The coarsening data of the Al-Ge alloy aged at 523 and 573K were analyzed on the basis of the Lifshitz-Wagner theory on diffusion controlled coarsening. The coarsening kinetics of the Ge precipitates in the matrix follows the time-law predictions of the thoery. However, pronounced departure from
t1/3 kinetics is found near P.F.Z. The number density of the Ge precipitates near P.F.Z. and the width of P.F.Z. were measured as a function of aging time. The particle-matrix interfacial free energy was determined.
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