Heat-Resistant Al-Alloys with Quasicrystalline and L12- Precipitates

We have been developing Al-Mn-Cu based alloys alloyed with minor additions of different elements. Small additions of beryllium enhance the formation of the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (IQC) during solidification, especially during ageing. Upon solidification, primary IQC-particles may form, with sizes, ranging from 5 to 50 μm. IQC is also present as a part of binary eutectic in the interdendritic regions. More importantly, nanosized quasicrystalline precipitates can form during T5-treatment at temperatures ranging from about 250−450 °C. They are, in fact, metastable precipitates transforming to ternary T-precipitates (Al20Mn3Cu2) phase above 450 °C. The heat resistance can be increased considerably by the addition of Sc and Zr by forming L12-precipitates in spaces between quasicrystalline precipitates. In this paper, we studied three alloys, two Al-Mn-Cu-Be alloys and an Al-Mn-Cu-Be-Sc-Zr alloy. The alloys were produced by vacuum induction melting and casting into a copper mould. We investigated the response of the alloys to different heat treatments and their heat resistance at higher temperatures. It was shown that the alloys could be precipitation strengthened by ageing at 300 °C and 400 °C. The hardness of the alloy stayed at relatively high levels even at 500 °C, while more substantial softening occurred at 600 °C.

Characterization in the icosahedral phase of the system Al63Cu25Fe12

The present work aimed to characterize the microstructure of the icosahedral phase (ɸ-quasicrystalline phase) of the system with stoichiometric composition of the quasicrystal Al63Cu25Fe12. The ternary alloy with nominal composition of Al63Cu25Fe12 was processed by Mechanical Alloying (MA) as a viable solid state processing method for producing various metastable and stable quasicrystalline phases. The structural characterization of the obtained samples was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), while the elemental composition of the chemical elements Al, Fe and Cu were determined by the technique of X-ray spectroscopy by dispersive energy (EDS). According to the results of XRD, the diffraction patterns of Al63Cu25Fe12 showed the presence of β-Al (Fe, Cu) and λ-Al13Fe4 phases coexist with the thermodynamic ɸ-phase quasicrystalline. Finally, elemental analysis indicates that during alloy synthesis there is little variation of the ideal composition. The results indicate that alloys with high percentage of icosahedral phase can be obtained by casting in the air.

Small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and Raman spectroscopy studies of biot-CMG(2)-DOPE quasicrystalline phases

Neoglycolipids due to their amphiphilic properties exhibit self-assembly in aqueous phases. In high concentrations the liquid crystalline or gel phases may form. So-called soft-material are a subject of interest of many scientists especially as biosensors and wound healing materials. In this study we examine the structure of a quasicrystalline phase of biot-CMG(2)-DOPE obtained at the concentration of 150 mg/ml (13wt.%) in PBS. The structural data such as interplanar spacing, order parameter and long-range order were obtained by SAXS, while the changes in chemical structure were studied by Raman spectroscopy. It was also in our interest to examine a correlation between the ionic strength and the self-assembly, so we also studied a similar quasicrystalline phase of the same compound but in a buffer containing CaCl2 at the concentration of 4wt.%. According to SAXS data, FSL-biotin construct formed a complex ordered phase consisting of overlapping latices of different kind. The addition of CaCl2 into PBS resulted in obtaining a more structured system demonstrating cubic-like crystal lattice. Change in peak intensities on Raman spectrums of -C-H- and -C-C- bonds vibrations explained the change in phase properties.

Heat Treatment in an Alloy Al63Cu24Fe12

Aluminum-based alloys containing quasicrystalline phases have good wear resistance due to their low wear coefficient and high hardness. The formation of quasicrystalline phases depends on the composition of the alloy and the imposition of high cooling rates on the molten metal. In the raw state of fusion, presenting β-type and Al13Fe4 monoclinic phases, they are present together with the quasicrystalline phase. A careful chemical composition control and an efficient heat treatment are necessary to obtain quasicrystalline phases. The objective of this work was to study the heat treatment in the homogenization of the quasicrystalline alloy Al64Cu27Fe15 obtained by smelting, in a controlled atmosphere. To understand the microstructural evolution, characterizations were made using SEM and XRD. The thermal treatment carried out for 24 hours, to obtain a microstructure with icosaedral phase coexisting with small increases in existing crystalline phases. Keywords: Quasicrystalline Phases. Microstructural Evolution. Phases of type β and Al13Fe4.

Synthesis and stability of quasicrystalline phase in Al-Cu-Fe-Si mechanically alloyed powders

The effect of Si addition on a quasicrystalline phase formation in Al-Cu-Fe-Si alloys prepared by mechanical alloying has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Two compositions containing 10 at.% of Si were selected to verify the influence of the e/a ratio on a sequence of phase formation during milling: Al58.5Cu18Fe13.5Si10 (e/a = 1.98) and Al53.5Cu19.5Fe17Si10 (e/a = 1.75). A quasicrystalline icosahedral phase (i-phase) was found in both alloys after 10 h of milling in the form of nano-quasicrystallites with the size of 10–20 nm. Addition of Si stabilized the quasicrystalline phase being dominant after prolonged milling time, contrary to the reference ternary Al65Cu20Fe15 powder, which apart of the quasicrystalline phase contained the cubic β-Al(Cu, Fe) phase. Thermal stability of the quasicrystalline phase in the powders milled for 10 h was examined after annealing at 800 °C for 4 h. The i-phase was preserved partially in Al53.5Cu19.5Fe17Si10 and reference Al65Cu20Fe15 powders (both with a ratio e/a = 1.75), which coexisted with β-Al(Cu, Fe) and Al13Fe4 phase or α-Al55Si7Cu25.5Fe12 and Al2Fe3Si3 phases in Al65Cu20Fe15 and Al53.5Cu19.5Fe17Si10, respectively. For the Al58.5Cu18Fe13.5Si10 powders (e/a = 1.98), the annealing led to complete transformation of the i-phase to the cubic α-Al55Si7Cu25.5Fe12.5 approximant, forming crystallites with a size of 100–300 nm. Graphical abstract

Structural Characterization of Al65Cu20Fe15 Melt-Spun Alloy by X-ray, Neutron Diffraction, High-Resolution Electron Microscopy and Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The aim of the work was to characterize the structure of Al65Cu20Fe15 alloy obtained with the use of conventional casting and rapid solidification-melt-spinning technology. Based on the literature data, the possibility of an icosahedral quasicrystalline phase forming in the Al-Cu-Fe was verified. Structure analysis was performed based on the results of X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, 57Fe Mössbauer and transmission electron microscopy. Studies using differential scanning calorimetry were carried out to describe the crystallization mechanism. Additionally, electrochemical tests were performed in order to characterize the influence of the structure and cooling rate on the corrosion resistance. On the basis of the structural studies, the formation of a metastable icosahedral phase and partial amorphous state of ribbon structure were demonstrated. The possibility of the formation of icosahedral quasicrystalline phase I-AlCuFe together with the crystalline phases was indicated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron diffraction (ND) patterns, Mössbauer spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves. The beneficial effect of the application of rapid solidification on the corrosive properties was also confirmed.