Abstract: The effect of Cu addition on the spinodal decomposition of the Al-Zn alloy with symmetrical compositions has been investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. It is found that the single fcc phase can be obtained in the AlZn alloy with the addition of 2 at. pct Cu after solution treatment at 400℃ and water quenching to room temperature. The modulation structure occurs in two types of alloys aged at room temperature for 30 min. The spinodal process remarkably slows down above or at the three phase equilibrium temperature, particularly at room temperature due to the addition of 2 at. pct Cu. The spinodal time increases by 20 times when aging at 300℃ and by more than 30 times when aging at room temperature.

Key words: Al-Zn(-Cu) alloy, Spinodal decomposition, Lattice parameter, X-ray diffraction