Abstract: Internal friction and elastic modulus of ternary Mn-Cu-Al alloys containing 56—60 wt-% Mn,0-3.59 wt-% Al were measured with acoustic frequency,1 kHz,in the tempera- ture range of-150 to 150℃.It was found that when the specimen was aged in the temperature range under the spinodal curve within the miscibility gap(400—500℃),the internal fric- tion increases with an increase of the aging time and reaches a maximum value at a certain ag- ing time which is shorter with a higher aging temperature.Two internal friction peaks which did not appear before the aging were observed above room temperature after a definite aging time.These are respectively the martensitic tranformation peak and the relaxation peak orig- inating from the stress-induced movement of the twin boundaries.The former peak shifts to- ward higher temperatures with an increase of the aging time,whereas the relaxation peak ap- pearing at 15℃,is independent of the aging time and temperature.The activation energy as- sociated with the relaxation peak was found to be 0.56 eV which is about the same as that of the relaxation peak in binary alloy containing 90 wt-% Mn.It was also found that the hardness,strength and the brittleness of the specimen increase when aged below the spinodal curve within the miscibility gap.The addition or Al enhances the strength but reduces the in- ternal friction of the specimen.A choice of suitable aging time and temperature can give an optimum compromise of high strength and high internal friction.Analysis of experimental re- sults suggests that spinodal decomposition leads to Mn-rich zones in the specimen and thus causes the phase transformation and the change of mechanical properties of the specimen.

Key words: internal friction, Mn-Cu-Al alloy, elastic modulus, mechanical properties, aging