6. Physical mechanisms of precipitation hardening

6.1 Structural hardening modeling

The precipitation sequences described above are accompanied by significant changes in the alloys' working properties. Among the physical and mechanical properties of prime importance to users, yield strength and hardness (Figure 22 ) are particularly sensitive to the precipitation state. Structural hardening, which results from the precipitation of fine particles of metastable or stable phases, is also of particular practical interest, not only because...