Transmission electron microscopy study of precipitate morphology and precipitate overcoming processes in aluminum alloy 6056 T6

High resolution electron microscopy and in situ straining experiments are performed on aluminum alloy 6056 T6 to charaterize the morphology of precipitates and the processes of precipitate overcoming by the dislocations. Two types of precipitates (needles and laths) are identified. They are found to be sheared by the dislocations and the maximum force precipitates can sustain before being sheared is calculated.