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Title: The structure-property relationships of powder processed Fe-Al-Si alloys

Thesis/Dissertation ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/654137· OSTI ID:654137
 [1]
  1. Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

Iron-aluminum alloys have been extensively evaluated as semi-continuous product such as sheet and bar, but have not been evaluated by net shape P/M processing techniques such as metal injection molding. The alloy compositions of iron-aluminum alloys have been optimized for room temperature ductility, but have limited high temperature strength. Hot extruded powder alloys in the Fe-Al-Si system have developed impressive mechanical properties, but the effects of sintering on mechanical properties have not been explored. This investigation evaluated three powder processed Fe-Al-Si alloys: Fe-15Al, Fe-15Al-2.8Si, Fe-15Al-5Si (atomic %). The powder alloys were produced with a high pressure gas atomization (HPGA) process to obtain a high fraction of metal injection molding (MIM) quality powder (D84 < 32 μm). The powders were consolidated either by P/M hot extrusion or by vacuum sintering. The extruded materials were near full density with grain sizes ranging from 30 to 50 μm. The vacuum sintering conditions produced samples with density ranging from 87% to 99% of theoretical density, with an average grain size ranging from 26 μm to 104 μm. Mechanical property testing was conducted on both extruded and sintered material using a small punch test. Tensile tests were conducted on extruded bar for comparison with the punch test data. Punch tests were conducted from 25 to 550 C to determine the yield strength, and fracture energy for each alloy as a function of processing condition. The ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) was observed to increase with an increasing silicon content. The Fe-15Al-2.8Si alloy was selected for more extensive testing due to the combination of high temperature strength and low temperature toughness due to the two phase α + DO3 structure. This investigation provided a framework for understanding the effects of silicon in powder processing and mechanical property behavior of Fe-Al-Si alloys.

Research Organization:
Ames Lab., Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-82
OSTI ID:
654137
Report Number(s):
IS-T-1832; ON: DE98004620; TRN: AHC2DT05%%224
Resource Relation:
Other Information: DN: Thesis submitted to Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (US); TH: Thesis (Ph.D.); PBD: 23 Feb 1998
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English