Influence of Fe, Cr, and Cu addition on the microstructure, hardness, and anticorrosion properties of Al–Ni–Y alloys

• Published in: Archives of Civil and Mechanical Engineering 2022-03, Vol.22 (2), p.82, Article 82
• Main Authors: Babilas, R., Młynarek-Żak, K., Łoński, W., Łukowiec, D., Lis, M., Kądziołka-Gaweł, M., Warski, T., Radoń, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminum; Aluminum alloys; Chemical elements; Chromium; Civil Engineering; Cooling; Cooling curves; Cooling rate; Copper; Corrosion prevention; Corrosion resistance; Crystallization; Differential thermal analysis; Electrodes; Engineering; Entropy; Iron; Master alloys; Mechanical Engineering; Mechanical properties; Microhardness; Mossbauer spectroscopy; Nickel; Original Article; Pitting (corrosion); Plasma sintering; Rapid solidification; Scanning electron microscopy; Sensors; Software; Spectrum analysis; Structural Materials; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 2083-3318; 1644-9665; 2083-3318
• DOI: 10.1007/s43452-022-00404-w

This study evaluated the structural changes of Al–Ni–(Fe,Cr,Cu)–Y alloys induced by different cooling states. The aim was to determine the role of Fe, Cr, and Cu addition as well as cooling rate on the structure, hardness and anticorrosion properties of crystalline and nanocrystalline Al–Ni–Y alloys. The impact of the preparation method on the structure of alloys was observed by the broadening of the X-ray diffraction peaks of the alloys in the form of plates, which indicated structure fragmentation at a high cooling rate. The TEM images showed the formation of a structure composed of homogeneously dispersed α-Al nanograins. Phase analysis performed using X-ray diffraction method and Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that the slowly cooled master alloys were mainly composed of Al 23 Ni 6 Y 4 , Al 10 Fe 2 Y, and α-Al phases. The Al 10 Fe 2 Y structure was the main Fe-bearing phase in all investigated master alloys. A crystallization mechanism was proposed based on the DTA heating and cooling curves. The pitting corrosion type was identified based on morphology observations after electrochemical tests. Rapid solidification and the addition of chromium and copper improved the microhardness as well as corrosion resistance. The high increase of hardness (289 HV 0.1 ) and corrosion resistance ( E corr  = − 0.629 V vs. SCE, j corr  = 2.19 μA cm −2 , v corr  = 0.07 mm/year) was noted for the Al 85 Ni 2.5 Fe 2.5 Cr 2.5 Cu 2.5 Y 5 alloy in a plate form.