Crystal structure of nano-scale precipitates in age-hardening
aluminum alloys is a challenge to crystallography. The utility of
selected area electron diffraction intensities from embedded
precipitates is limited by double scattering via matrix reflections.
This effect can be signally reduced by the precession technique, which
we have used to collect extensive intensity data from the semicoherent,
metastable η′-precipitate in the Al-Zn-Mg alloy system. A
structure model in the space group P-62c is proposed from
high-resolution microscopy and electron diffraction intensities. The
advantages of using the precession technique for quantitative electron
diffraction is discussed.