Precipitation strengthening in aluminum-zirconium-vanadium alloys

Atom probe tomography (APT) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were used to study the co-precipitation and coarsening mechanisms of Al3(Zr1-x,Vx) precipitates formed in Al-Zr-V alloys. The strengthening mechanism that is operative in properly aged Al-Zr-V alloys are determined, and the antiphase boundary (APB) energy between the α-Al matrix and the Al3Zr precipitates and between the α-Al matrix and the Al3(Zr1-x,Vx) precipitates is indirectly determined. •The nucleation and growth of L12-Al3(Zr,V) precipitates are studied.•The coarsening rate of Al3(Zr,V) precipitates is measured.•Al3(Zr,V) precipitates have the slowest coarsening rate when Zr:V = 1:2 (at.%).•The APB energy of L12-Al3(Zr,V) particles in aluminum is determined.