Phase equilibria investigation of the Al–Ni–Er ternary system at 600 °C and 700 °C

Abstract

Phase equilibria of the Al–Ni–Er ternary system at 600 °C and 700 °C were experimentally investigated through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron probe micro-analysis. New ternary compounds τ11-AlNiEr4, τ12-AlNi6Er13 and τ13-AlNi2Er were discovered in the equilibrated alloy samples. Compounds τ5, τ10, τ13, AlNi3, AlNi, Al3Ni2, Al2Er, ErNi2 and ErNi5 have a certain range of solid solubility. The solid solubility of Ni in Al2Er is 10.3 at.% and 11.25 at.% at 600 °C and 700 °C, respectively. The solid solubility of Al in ErNi2 is 3.6 at.% and 5.09 at.% at 600 °C and 700 °C, respectively. Experiments have verified that CaCu5–ErNi5 is a continuous solid solution and the maximum solubility of Al is up to 33.33 at.%.