Title: Phase transformation in Al-Cu-Fe alloys produced by induction fusion

Authors: H. Boularas; M.Y. Debili

Addresses: Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Magnetism and Spectroscopy of Solids LM2S, Department of Physics, Badji-Mokhtar University, Annaba, BP12 23200, Algeria ' Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Magnetism and Spectroscopy of Solids LM2S, Department of Physics, Badji-Mokhtar University, Annaba, BP12 23200, Algeria

Abstract: Structural characteristics and thermal behaviour of the conventionally solidified Al-Cu-Fe alloys prepared by magnetic induction melting with nominal compositions of Al₈₀Cu₁₄Fe₆, Al₆₅Cu₂₃Fe₁₂ and Al₇₂Cu₁₃Fe₁₅ were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, optical micrographs and differential thermal analysis. The icosahedral quasicrystalline (i-QC) phase is obtained in Al₈₀Cu₁₄Fe₆ alloy only after heat treatment at 500°C contrarily to Al₆₅Cu₂₃Fe₁₂ and Al₇₂Cu₁₃Fe₁₅ and coexists with other crystalline intermetallic phases: cubic β-Al(Cu,Fe), monoclinic λ-Al₁₃Fe₄ and tetragonal θ-Al₂Cu. Vickers Microhardness variation with alloy composition as-solidified and heat treated has been also used in this work to determine the intrinsic mechanical hardening of the Al-Cu-Fe alloys.

Keywords: quasi-crystals; structural characteristics; solidification; induction melting; Al-Cu-Fe alloys; aluminium alloys; copper; iron; icosahedral phase; heat treatment; Vickers microhardness; crystalline intermetallic phases; microstructure; thermal behaviour; mechanical hardening; phase transformation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2013.057070

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2013 Vol.8 No.4/5, pp.333 - 342

Published online: 07 Oct 2013 *

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