Influence of Trace Additions of Silver on the Stress Corrosion of an Al–4% Zn–3% Mg Alloy

Abstract

Direct measurement of the magnesium solute distributions occurring around grain boundaries in aged Al–4% Zn–3% Mg alloy with and without trace additions of silver has shown that the segregation behaviour of the magnesium is not influenced by the presence of the silver. It has been shown that reported improvements in the stress corrosion resistance of the ternary alloy resulting from trace additions of silver are not due to any effect on either the magnesium segregation or the distribution of silver itself. Microanalysis was performed using the technique of combined electron microscopy and electron energy analysis with a spatial resolution of < 100Å.