Using Cluster Dynamics to Model Electrical Resistivity Measurements in Precipitating Al-Sc Alloys

TL;DR

This study uses cluster dynamics modeling to accurately predict electrical resistivity evolution during precipitation in Al-Sc alloys, revealing that large clusters mainly cause resistivity excess during coarsening.

Contribution

It demonstrates that cluster dynamics can quantitatively predict resistivity measurements and challenges simple power law assumptions for resistivity behavior in Al-Sc alloys.

Findings

Resistivity predictions match experimental data.

Large clusters dominate resistivity during coarsening.

Resistivity does not follow simple power laws as previously assumed.

Abstract

Electrical resistivity evolution during precipitation in Al-Sc alloys is modeled using cluster dynamics. This mesoscopic modeling has already been shown to correctly predict the time evolution of the precipitate size distribution. In this work, we show that it leads too to resistivity predictions in quantitative agreement with experimental data. We only assume that all clusters contribute to the resistivity and that each cluster contribution is proportional to its area. One interesting result is that the resistivity excess observed during coarsening mainly arises from large clusters and not really from the solid solution. As a consequence, one cannot assume that resistivity asymptotic behavior obeys a simple power law as predicted by LSW theory for the solid solution supersaturation. This forbids any derivation of the precipitate interface free energy or of the solute diffusion coefficient from resistivity experimental data in a phase-separating system like Al-Sc supersaturated alloys.