The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging
Fe-rich intermetallics affect critically the mechanical properties and recyclability of aluminium alloys. Increasing effort has been spent on the inoculation of these intermetallics, hoping to promote a finer distribution. Recently Al-5Ti-1B (wt.%), originally developed to refine α-Al, has been show...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Materials & Design |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127523005257 |
| _version_ | 1797736195233415168 |
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| author | Shikang Feng Zelong Jin Wenjia Du Insung Han Andrew Lui Xiaorong Zhou Paul R. Shearing Patrick S. Grant Enzo Liotti |
| author_facet | Shikang Feng Zelong Jin Wenjia Du Insung Han Andrew Lui Xiaorong Zhou Paul R. Shearing Patrick S. Grant Enzo Liotti |
| author_sort | Shikang Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fe-rich intermetallics affect critically the mechanical properties and recyclability of aluminium alloys. Increasing effort has been spent on the inoculation of these intermetallics, hoping to promote a finer distribution. Recently Al-5Ti-1B (wt.%), originally developed to refine α-Al, has been shown to refine Al13Fe4, an intermetallic phase present in a variety of Al alloys. However, mechanisms of the formation and growth of the intermetallics on the inoculants are unclear. In this paper, Ti is added to Fe-containing Al alloys to produce a large number of potent Al3Ti particles, the active inoculant in Al-5Ti-1B. We use a combination of electron backscattered diffraction, in situ synchrotron X-ray radiography and post-solidification X-ray computed tomography to investigate the formation and growth of primary Al13Fe4 on Al3Ti inoculants, first in a model Al-Fe alloy, with key insights then confirmed in a high Fe-containing, recycled 6xxx alloy. Crystallographic orientation relationships between Al13Fe4 and Al3Ti are analysed comprehensively, and the formation and growth dynamics of Al13Fe4 on Al3Ti is also unveiled. A strong link is revealed between the formation of Al13Fe4 on Al3Ti and a twinning-related pseudo-symmetry of Al13Fe4. Finally, a potential strategy to refine both intermetallics and α-Al in recycled alloys with elevated Fe concentration is proposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:10:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4203f227774f40fe8b65146adf346adc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0264-1275 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:10:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials & Design |
| spelling | doaj.art-4203f227774f40fe8b65146adf346adc2023-08-28T04:22:20ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752023-08-01232112110The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imagingShikang Feng0Zelong Jin1Wenjia Du2Insung Han3Andrew Lui4Xiaorong Zhou5Paul R. Shearing6Patrick S. Grant7Enzo Liotti8Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK; Corresponding author.Corrosion and Protection Centre, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKThe Electrochemical Innovation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UKDepartment of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UKDepartment of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UKCorrosion and Protection Centre, School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UKThe Electrochemical Innovation Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UKDepartment of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK; Corresponding author.Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK; Corresponding author.Fe-rich intermetallics affect critically the mechanical properties and recyclability of aluminium alloys. Increasing effort has been spent on the inoculation of these intermetallics, hoping to promote a finer distribution. Recently Al-5Ti-1B (wt.%), originally developed to refine α-Al, has been shown to refine Al13Fe4, an intermetallic phase present in a variety of Al alloys. However, mechanisms of the formation and growth of the intermetallics on the inoculants are unclear. In this paper, Ti is added to Fe-containing Al alloys to produce a large number of potent Al3Ti particles, the active inoculant in Al-5Ti-1B. We use a combination of electron backscattered diffraction, in situ synchrotron X-ray radiography and post-solidification X-ray computed tomography to investigate the formation and growth of primary Al13Fe4 on Al3Ti inoculants, first in a model Al-Fe alloy, with key insights then confirmed in a high Fe-containing, recycled 6xxx alloy. Crystallographic orientation relationships between Al13Fe4 and Al3Ti are analysed comprehensively, and the formation and growth dynamics of Al13Fe4 on Al3Ti is also unveiled. A strong link is revealed between the formation of Al13Fe4 on Al3Ti and a twinning-related pseudo-symmetry of Al13Fe4. Finally, a potential strategy to refine both intermetallics and α-Al in recycled alloys with elevated Fe concentration is proposed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127523005257Impurity-tolerant alloy designIntermetallic compounds (IMCs)InoculationOrientation relationshipsTwinningAlloy recycling |
| spellingShingle | Shikang Feng Zelong Jin Wenjia Du Insung Han Andrew Lui Xiaorong Zhou Paul R. Shearing Patrick S. Grant Enzo Liotti The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging Materials & Design Impurity-tolerant alloy design Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) Inoculation Orientation relationships Twinning Alloy recycling |
| title | The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging |
| title_full | The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging |
| title_fullStr | The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging |
| title_short | The mechanism of Fe-rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and X-ray imaging |
| title_sort | mechanism of fe rich intermetallic compound formation and growth on inoculants revealed by electron backscattered diffraction and x ray imaging |
| topic | Impurity-tolerant alloy design Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) Inoculation Orientation relationships Twinning Alloy recycling |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127523005257 |
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