Microstructure control and ductility improvement of La-Al-(Cu, Ni) composites by Bridgman solidification

Y. Zhang*, W. Xu, H. Tan, Y. Li

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microstructure evolutions were experimentally studied as a function of growth velocity and alloy composition in LaxAl14(Cu, Ni)86 - x alloys (x = 57-74). The composition-velocity ranges were determined for the formation of eutectic, amorphous, eutectic + compound, amorphous + dendrite, and eutectic + dendrite. A skewed eutectic coupled zone was found towards the compound phase. A composite structure composed of ductile La dendrites in a matrix of either eutectic or amorphous phase can be produced in hypoeutectic alloys. Compressive tests were performed on amorphous/dendrite and eutectic/dendrite composites. As the volume fraction of dendrites increases, fracture strength linearly decreases and obeys a rule-of-mixtures relationship, whereas plastic strain exhibits an exponential increase. Optimised mechanical properties can be realized through both alloy composition design and well-controlled solidification processing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2607-2616
Number of pages10
JournalActa Materialia
Volume53
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bridgman solidification
  • Bulk metallic glass
  • Composite
  • Eutectic
  • La based alloy

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