Thermoelectric power study of non-isothermal precipitation in 3003 alloys

Non-isothermal precipitation in 3003 alloys was monitored by thermoelectric power measurements in various conditions of manganese supersaturation and strain. Thermoelectric power revealed itself as a technique able to generate valuable information which permitted us to study details of the precipitation. The as cast samples are characterized by a maximum rate of precipitation at 693 K and the homogenized samples, by a maximum rate of precipitation at 773 K. The strained samples exhibit a new maximum which displaces itself towards the low temperature region, according to the magnitude of the strain. Each peak obtained has been associated with a precipitated phase.