Evolution of Cu-rich phase in Al-modified ferrite stainless steel during short-term ageing.

[Display omitted] • The addition of Al increases the nucleation rate of the Cu-rich phase. • The addition of Al can increase the coarsening rate of the Cu-rich phase. • The addition of Al changes the crystal structure of the Cu-rich phase. • The addition of Al hinders the coarsening of the Cu-rich phase into a rod shape. • The Al-containing Cu-rich nanoprecipitates are rich in high-density edge dislocations. In this article, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the precipitation behaviour of the Cu-rich phase in Al-free and 1Al Cu-bearing ferrite stainless steels; and further, the effects of Al addition on the precipitation and coarsening of the Cu-rich phase and its mechanism were analysed. The results show that Al increases the nucleation rate of the Cu-rich phase, and refines Cu-rich nanoprecipitates after ageing for 1 min. The Cu-rich phase with four crystal structures-BCC, 9R, twin FCC, and non-twin FCC were found in the Al-free sample during ageing. However, only Cu-rich phase with BCC and BCT structures were observed after Al addition. There are high-density edge dislocations in Al-containing Cu-rich nanoprecipitates. These dislocations can be used as a diffusion channel for solute atoms, increasing the coarsening rate of the Cu-rich phase. However, with the extension of the ageing time, dislocations in the Cu-rich phase will be annihilated owing to the thermal activation and the decrease of the Al concentration in the Cu-rich phase, which will lead to a decrease in the dislocation density in Al-containing Cu-rich phase. Finally, the promotion effect of Al on the coarsening of the Cu-rich phase is weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]