A synchrotron radiation study of phase separation in AlZn alloys—I. Kinetics

Phase separation in the AlZn binary system has been investigated by small angle X-ray scattering with a synchrotron radiation source. Three average concentrations, Al-12%Zn, Al-22%Zn and Al-32%Zn, have been examined in situ and the structure function has been measured from very early to late aging times. The early time results are compared with both the linear theory of spinodal decomposition of Cahn, Hilliard and Cook and with the nonlinear theory of Langer, Bar-on and Miller. In addition, power law kinetic behavior has been verified for all the samples and the results compared with those of previous studies.