Room Temperature Tensile Ductility in Powder Processed B2 FeAi Alloys

Abstract

AbstractIt has been shown that it is possible to obtain significant room temperature tensile ductility in FeAl alloys using iron-rich deviations from stoichiometry. A comparison of the room temperature tensile and compressive behaviors of Fe−50at% Al and Fe−40at% Al shows that FeAl is brittle at higher Al contents because it fractures along grain boundaries before general yielding. Lower aluminium contents reduce the yield stress substantially and hence some ductility is observed before fracture.Addition of boron results in measurable improvements in ductility of Fe−40at% Al and is accompanied by an increase in transgranular tearing on the fracture surface, suggesting a grain boundary strengthening mechanism.Increasing the cooling rate following annealing at 1273 K results in a large increase in the yield strength and a corresponding decrease in ductility.