Effect of compositions and processing parameters on eutectoid reaction in AlCoFeNi multi-component alloys
摘要
Suitable chemical compositions for lamellar microstructures (LMs) via eutectoid reaction in multi-component alloys (MCAs) is a challenging task. This study employed Thermo-Calc (TCHEA3 database) to calculate phase diagrams by systematically varying Al, Co, Fe and Ni content within the AlCoFeNi system. Based on these calculations, selected compositions were arc-melted and thoroughly investigated for the optimal chemical compositions, initial phase microstructures and phase transformation to LMs. The optimal compositions of MCAs for LMs were determined to be Al7(CoFeNi)93 and Al10(CoFeNi1.5)90 at.%, which are in single face centered cubic (FCC) phase. SEM analysis confirmed that aging the solid-solution MCAs at 500–600 °C induces LMs transformation. For the Al7(CoFeNi)93 MCA, aging at 500, 560, and 600 °C yielded LMs spacings of 75 ± 13 nm, 138 ± 29 nm, and 364 ± 102 nm, respectively; under the same conditions, the Al13(CoFeNi)87 MCA gave spacings of 103 ± 51 nm, 188 ± 18 nm, and 347 ± 51 nm. The tensile properties of Al7(CoFeNi)93 MCA were governed aging temperatures transforming the FCC phase into LMs. Aging at 500 and 560 °C increased strength (YS: 414–620 MPa; UTS: 493–799 MPa) but reduced ductility (UE: 0.94–0.50%). Aging at 600 °C (24 h, WQ) provide balanced tensile properties (UTS: 603 MPa; UE: 29.12%). Aging for 48 h gives enhanced strength (749 MPa) at the cost of ductility (4.60%). Furthermore, Johnson–Mehl–Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) analysis at 560 °C yielded transformation kinetics parameters (n, k) of (1.08, 0.028) for Al7(CoFeNi)93 MCA and (1.47, 0.15) for Al13(CoFeNi)90 MCA. The corresponding activation energies for the eutectoid LMs determined via the Arrhenius model, are 199.71 and 268 kJ/mol.