Increasing the composition range of a novel τ11-Al4Fe1.7Si alloy with additions of Mn

• DOI: 10.1016/j.intermet.2022.107499
• Publication Date: 2022-03-23T23:55:13Z
• Authors: Sujeily Soto-Medina; Biswas Rijal; Anil K. Sachdev; Richard G. Hennig; Michele V. Manuel
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Automotive applications need low-cost, lightweight, high-temperature alloys to increase vehicle efficiency. The Al–Fe–Si system provides an opportunity develop such a material, as it consists of three low-cost elements that are all abundant in nature. Specifically, the τ11-Al4Fe1.7Si ternary intermetallic phase is high-temperature, lightweight with high strength and good corrosion resistance. However, this exhibits narrow compositional range stability, resulting undesirable microstructures forming during solidification processing, limiting its use potential applications. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations thermodynamically-driven experimental approach utilizing diffusion couples were employed study effect Mn on stability composition τ11-Al4Fe1.7Si. DFT showed decrease energy structure when alloying Mn. Experimental results confirmed predictions from calculations, indicating increases range, thus processability phase. New diagrams equilibria proposed by exploring determining boundaries for