The release of the excess phase from the supersaturated solution at the low temperatures leads to the increase in the strength and hardness of the alloy. This is called dispersion hardening or aging. During aging, there is usually a lot of precipitation, evenly distributed throughout the alloy. Especially, a lot of them during exposure at room temperature. In this case, the decomposition of the supersaturated solution occurs slowly and is termed natural aging.
With the heating of the alloy, the precipitation intensifies and is called artificial aging. At the initial stages of natural aging in the supersaturated solution (Fig. 1, a), Continue reading →