Analysis of aluminium based alloys by calorimetry: quantitative analysis of reactions and reaction kinetics

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and isothermal calorimetry have been applied extensively to the analysis of light metals, especially Al based alloys. Isothermal calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry are used for analysis of solid state reactions, such as precipitation, homogenisation, devitrivication and recrystallisation; and solid–liquid reactions, such as incipient melting and solidification, are studied by differential scanning calorimetry. In producing repeatable calorimetry data on Al alloys, sample preparation, reproducibility and baseline drift need to be considered in detail. Calorimetry can be used effectively to study the different solid state reactions and solid–liquid reactions that occur during the main processing steps of Al based alloys (solidification, homogenisation, precipitation). Also, devitrivication of amorphous and ultrafine grained Al based powders and flakes can be studied effectively. Quantitative analysis of the kinetics of reactions is assessed through reviewing the interrelation between activation energy analysis methods, equivalent time approaches, impingement parameter approaches, mean field models for precipitation, the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov model, as well as novel models which have not yet found application in calorimetry. Differential scanning calorimetry has occasionally been used in attempts to measure the volume fractions of phases present in Al based alloys, and attempts at determining volume fractions of intermetallic phases in commercial alloys and amounts of devitrified phase in glasses are reviewed. The requirements for the validity of these quantitative applications are also reviewed.