A transmission electron microscopy study of the effect of quenched-in vacancies on long and short-range order in Cu₃Au alloy

Abstract

By electron microscope observations on Cu₃Au alloy samples quenched with two distinct quenching rates, the efficiency of ordering of the vacancies during very slow quenches is emphasized.

On the contrary, if the quenching rate is sufficiently high the vacancies cluster, giving rise to extended defects, without producing order during the quench.

Extended defects in bulk material anneal at 360°C by a process of emission and diffusion of vacancies which develop a degree of long-range order higher than that obtained from specimens quenched from 500°c, in the same annealing conditions.