Structural and Phase Transformations in Al–Li–Cu–Mg–Zr–Sc–Zn Alloy upon Storage after Megaplastic Deformation

Structural and phase transformations in a commercial multicomponent aluminum–lithium alloy have been studied electron-microscopically upon storage after mega-plastic deformation by high-pressure torsion. It has been shown that the arising deformation structure of the alloy is unstable, and upon subsequent storage at room temperature it is transformed via a complex reaction of in situ recrystallization and decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution. The character of the transformation is determined by the regime of the previous mega-plastic deformation and by the duration of the storage.