The microstructural evolution during natural ageing and artificial ageing treatment has been quantified in Al–Cu–Li alloys with Cu/Li ratios of 2.3 and 3.9. Methods including various ageing, hardness testing, transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were employed. The precipitation of T1 (Al2CuLi) phase was confirmed for the first time in the high Li content alloy under natural ageing treatment for 5 months, while the Li-lean alloy exhibits barely any precipitation at room temperature. Under artificial ageing, th...
