Microstructures of Al–Al3Ti functionally graded materials fabricated by centrifugal solid-particle method and centrifugal in situ method

Abstract

Methods of fabrication by centrifugal casting for functionally graded materials (FGMs) can be classified into two categories on the basis of the relationship between the process temperature and the liquidus temperature of a master alloy. They are the centrifugal solid-particle method and centrifugal in situ method, which could be carried out at process temperatures lower and higher than the liquidus temperature of the master alloy, respectively. In a previous study, it was found that the microstructures of Al–Al3Ti FGMs fabricated by the centrifugal in situ method processed at 1600 °C were different from those fabricated by the centrifugal solid-particle method processed at 800 °C. Although it is expected that the FGMs fabricated by the centrifugal in situ method processed at approximately the liquidus temperature should show extraordinary microstructures, those microstructures have not been observed. In this study, the microstructures of Al–Al3Ti FGMs fabricated at 1000 °C (centrifugal solid-particle method) and 1200 °C (centrifugal in situ method) were investigated.