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Alloying effects and microstructure of iron aluminides

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6569321

An alloying study of the iron aluminide, Fe/sub 3/Al, with ternary additions of boron, silicon, copper, or nickel has been performed in order to investigate their alloying behavior and associated microstructures. It was found that additions of boron had virtually no effect on the ductility and fracture behavior of Fe/sub 3/Al. Although silicon and copper increased the yield stress and hardness both elements were found to embrittle the alloy by a process of second phase precipitation. Second-phase particles were observed only on grain boundaries in the silicon alloys with greater than or equal to 3 at. % Si, but these precipitates were almost silicon free. Copper additions resulted in extensive precipitation throughout the matrix and on grain boundaries except for a precipitate-free zone adjacent to the grain boundaries. Nickel additions also resulted in grain boundary fracture in two-phase alloys except for the alloy of the composition 40 at. % Fe-40Ni-20Al. This alloy has improved high-temperature strength as well as room-temperature ductility.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6569321
Report Number(s):
CONF-840417-6; ON: DE85000903
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English