Abstract
A novel Al-Er master alloy has been prepared through in situ metallothermic reactions of NaErF4 and aluminium melts. The compound NaErF4 is formed as a result of the interaction of NaF and ErF3 in the melt medium KCl. The metallothermic reactions produce erbium, which through low solubility in molten aluminium and forms intermetallic compound Al3Er. The microstructures of the Al-Er master alloy with different contents of the alloying metal has been investigated. The results showed that the Al-Er master alloy mainly consisted of phases of α-Al and Al3Er, that confirmed by the results of X-ray diffraction. Backscattered electron imaging of the Al-Er master alloy under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the presence of phase Al3Er, which crystallized in the eutectic composition [Al+Al3Er]. The observed microstructure is explained according to the eutectic reaction in an Al-Er phase diagram. The preparation of Al-Er master alloy by the metallothermic reduction method will allow to reduce energy consumption for master alloy production and to reduce the cost of aluminium alloys alloyed with Er through the novel master alloy.
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