In this work, the effect of Cu additives and heat treatment on the precipitation sequence of an Al-Si-Mg-Cr alloy has been systematically studied by means of advanced spherical aberration-corrected electron microscopy. Cu atoms tend to gather at the interface between the precipitates and the matrix at the beginning of the aging process. Then, Cu atoms diffuse into the precipitates. Two types of GP zones are formed in the first stage of precipitation: one is the type I GP zone and the other is the type II GP zone. The type I GP zone βCu″ evolved into the Q' phase, while the type II GP zone evolved into the θ' phase during the aging process. The aging sequence of the Al-Si-Mg-Cr alloy can be determined as a supersaturated solid solution (SSSS) → GP zones → β″→ β'/B'(→β). The aging sequence of the Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg-0.3%Cr-1.5%Cu alloy can be determined as a supersaturated solid solution (SSSS)→GP zone→βCu″→Q' + θ'(→Q + θ).
Keywords: Al-Mg-Si-Cr alloy; Cu addition; GP zone; HAADF-STEM; precipitation.