Abstract: Decomposition processes of the quenched Zn-Al alloys were studied by differentiai scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the stabilities of supersaturated solid solution (SSS) of Zn-Al alloy and c' phase formed by quenching would reduce with increasing Zn content and precipitating η-Zn phases even when aging at ambient temperature,so that exothermic precipitation peak in DSC curve would disappear. The activation energy of the η-Zn precipitation and their reaction enthalpy were calculated and measured. The kinetics of α' decomposition or η-Zn formation was determined by XRD.The microstructure change during aging was observed by TEM.

Key words: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction(XRD), aging, Zn-Al alloy