Barothermal analysis and structure of the eutectic Al-Ni (2.7 at % Ni) alloy

Abstract

Phase transformations of the 2.7Ni + 97.3Al eutectic alloy have been characterized by differential barothermal analysis (DBA) at temperatures of up to 750°C and pressures of up to ∼100 MPa. The results demonstrate that the Al matrix of the as-prepared alloy was saturated with micropores. After melting and crystallization in compressed argon, the micropore density increased. As a result of melting and solidification, the fine-grained structure of the as-prepared alloy transformed to a macrocrystalline, dendritic structure. Electron microscopy was used to determine the volume fraction of the intermetallic phase NiAl3 in the Al matrix. Supersaturated solid solutions of nickel in aluminum decompose at 626°C to give a mixture of Al〈Ni〉 and NiAl3. At 100 MPa, the nickel-aluminum solid-solution range extends to 2.7–2.8 at % Ni, and the nickel content at the eutectic point may reach 3.1–3.3 at %. The Al and NiAl3 in the alloy solidified at 100 MPa had reduced lattice parameters. We determined the microhardness of the Al matrix after DBA.