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A study of phase decomposition in Cu-Ni-Fe alloys

Journal Article · · Acta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States)
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Tohoku, Sendai (Japan). Dept. of Materials Science
  2. Univ. of Tokyo, Tokyo (Japan). Inst. for Solid State Physics

A study of phase decomposition in two Cu-Ni-Fe alloys was realized by AP-FIM. It was possible to confirm that phase decomposition takes place via spinodal decomposition in this alloy system, as the amplitude of the composition modulation increased with aging time without practically any change in the wavelength of the modulation. It was also observed that the morphology of the decomposed phases is related to the coherency-strain energy as predicted by Cahn's theory of spinodal decomposition. By analysis of the data of the modulation wavelength, it was possible to estimate the coherent spinodal temperature to be 800 [plus minus] 25 and 900 [plus minus] 25K in Cu-46 at.% Ni-4 at.% Fe and Cu-48 at.% Ni-8 at.% Fe alloys, respectively. In the early stage of decomposition, the change in modulation wavelength showed a time exponent as small as about 0.07. On the other hand, in the coarsening stage the change in the modulation wavelength agreed well with the LSW theory of thermally activated growth. The activation energy for this coarsening process was determined to be 216 [plus minus] 10 and 232 [plus minus] 10 kJ/mol in the Cu-46 at.% Ni-4 at.% Fe and Cu-48 at.% Ni-8 at.% Fe alloys, respectively. The compositions of the decomposed phases are consistent with the miscibility gap in the calculated equilibrium Cu-Ni-Fe phase diagram.

OSTI ID:
6327765
Journal Information:
Acta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States), Journal Name: Acta Metallurgica et Materialia; (United States) Vol. 41:1; ISSN 0956-7151; ISSN AMATEB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English