PRESENT ACHIEVEMENTS, PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH A SEMIEMPIRICAL STUDY OF THE AL-CU-MG-SI-ZN LIGHT ALLOY SYSTEM

In this paper, the main achievements of the thermodynamic assessment o f the Al-Cu-Mg-Si-Zn system are summarised and necessary key experimen ts identified in order to improve the thermodynamic description. A rev iew of the main features of the thermodynamic models that are used for describing various non-stoichiometric intermediate phases, as well as problems associated with their compatibility and application is prese nted. The possibility of using more physically realistic models for th e representation of multicomponent systems is also discussed. The infl uence of the descriptions on further, process-related calculations, su ch as those applied to solidification and heat treatment, is considere d. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.