Phase Relations of the Sm–Ni–Al Ternary System at 800 °C in the 30–100 at.% Al Region

Abstract

The Sm–Ni–Al phase relationships at 800 °C have been investigated by using several well–focused experimental techniques such as X–Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), Light Optical Microscopy (LOM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive Microprobe Analysis (EPMA). The isothermal section of the Sm–Ni–Al system at 800 °C was constructed according to the present experimental results. More than 50 alloys have been synthesized and characterized in the 30–100 at.% Al region. At 800 °C, 9 intermetallic phases have been confirmed, characterized and their relationships have been established. In the Al-rich corner, the presence of two ternary invariant reactions have been postulated whilst along the 16.67 at.% Sm isopleth, the presence of two structurally related extended solid solutions have been observed. The determined phase equilibria at 800 °C are discussed and compared with the isothermal section at 500 °C already reported in literature.