In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds

The nucleation and growth processes of pure Fe/pure Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs) during heat treatment at 380 °C and 520 °C were observed through in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of the IMCs were statistically analyzed using image analysis software. The types and distributio...

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Main Authors: Xiaojun Zhang, Kunyuan Gao, Zhen Wang, Xiuhua Hu, Jianzhu Wang, Zuoren Nie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/6022
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author Xiaojun Zhang
Kunyuan Gao
Zhen Wang
Xiuhua Hu
Jianzhu Wang
Zuoren Nie
author_facet Xiaojun Zhang
Kunyuan Gao
Zhen Wang
Xiuhua Hu
Jianzhu Wang
Zuoren Nie
author_sort Xiaojun Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The nucleation and growth processes of pure Fe/pure Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs) during heat treatment at 380 °C and 520 °C were observed through in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of the IMCs were statistically analyzed using image analysis software. The types and distribution of IMCs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). The results showed that: at 380 °C, the primary phase of the Fe/Al composite intermetallic compounds was Fe<sub>4</sub>Al<sub>13</sub>, formed on the Fe side and habituated with Fe. The IMC was completely transformed from the initial Fe<sub>4</sub>Al<sub>13</sub> to the most stable Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub>, and the Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub> was the habitus with Fe during the process of holding at 380 °C for 15 min to 60 min. At 380 °C, the initial growth rate of the IMC was controlled by reaction, and the growth rate of the thickness and horizontal dimensions was basically the same as 0.02–0.17 μm/min. When the IMC layer thickness reached 4.5 μm, the growth rate of the thickness changed from reaction control to diffusion control and decreased to 0.007 μm/min. After heat treatment at 520 °C (≤20 min), the growth of IMC was still controlled by the reaction, the horizontal growth rate was 0.53 μm/min, the thickness growth rate was 0.23 μm/min, and the main phase of the IMC was the Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub> phase at 520 °C/20 min.
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spelling doaj.art-0cb1073aea8049588363241cd533b2422023-11-19T08:29:10ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-09-011617602210.3390/ma16176022In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic CompoundsXiaojun Zhang0Kunyuan Gao1Zhen Wang2Xiuhua Hu3Jianzhu Wang4Zuoren Nie5Faculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaFaculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaFaculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaFaculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaFaculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaFaculty of Materials and Manufacturing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaThe nucleation and growth processes of pure Fe/pure Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs) during heat treatment at 380 °C and 520 °C were observed through in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of the IMCs were statistically analyzed using image analysis software. The types and distribution of IMCs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD). The results showed that: at 380 °C, the primary phase of the Fe/Al composite intermetallic compounds was Fe<sub>4</sub>Al<sub>13</sub>, formed on the Fe side and habituated with Fe. The IMC was completely transformed from the initial Fe<sub>4</sub>Al<sub>13</sub> to the most stable Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub>, and the Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub> was the habitus with Fe during the process of holding at 380 °C for 15 min to 60 min. At 380 °C, the initial growth rate of the IMC was controlled by reaction, and the growth rate of the thickness and horizontal dimensions was basically the same as 0.02–0.17 μm/min. When the IMC layer thickness reached 4.5 μm, the growth rate of the thickness changed from reaction control to diffusion control and decreased to 0.007 μm/min. After heat treatment at 520 °C (≤20 min), the growth of IMC was still controlled by the reaction, the horizontal growth rate was 0.53 μm/min, the thickness growth rate was 0.23 μm/min, and the main phase of the IMC was the Fe<sub>2</sub>Al<sub>5</sub> phase at 520 °C/20 min.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/6022pure Fe/pure Al compositesintermetallic compoundsin situ heat treatmentshabitusgrowth rate
spellingShingle Xiaojun Zhang
Kunyuan Gao
Zhen Wang
Xiuhua Hu
Jianzhu Wang
Zuoren Nie
In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds
Materials
pure Fe/pure Al composites
intermetallic compounds
in situ heat treatments
habitus
growth rate
title In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds
title_full In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds
title_fullStr In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds
title_full_unstemmed In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds
title_short In Situ SEM, TEM, EBSD Characterization of Nucleation and Early Growth of Pure Fe/Pure Al Intermetallic Compounds
title_sort in situ sem tem ebsd characterization of nucleation and early growth of pure fe pure al intermetallic compounds
topic pure Fe/pure Al composites
intermetallic compounds
in situ heat treatments
habitus
growth rate
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/17/6022
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