Skip to main content
Log in

A new high-strength spinodal alloy

  • Rapid Communication
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Preliminary investigations of a new high-strength alloy of composition Fe30Ni20Mn25Al25 (at.%) are described in this paper. The as-cast alloy consisted of a periodic two-phase microstructure of interconnected, ∼50-nm-wide rods with fully coherent {100} interfaces, strongly suggestive of formation by a B2 to [(B2 + body-centered cubic (bcc)] spinodal decomposition. The (Ni,Al)-rich B2 and (Fe,Mn)-rich bcc phases differed in lattice parameter by <0.5%. Hardness and yield strength of the as-cast alloy were found to be approximately 500 VPN and 1500 MPa, respectively, and increased by more than 50% after annealing at 550 °C for several days. (Fe,Mn)-rich precipitates with a β–Mn structure were observed in the annealed material.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H. Xiao and I. Baker: Long range order and defect concentrations in NiAl and CoAl. Acta Metall. Mater. 42, 1535 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Wittmann, I. Baker, and P. Munroe: The structure and mechanical properties of Fe2AlMn single crystals. Philos. Mag. A 84, 3169 (2004).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. C. Jantzen and H. Herman: Spinodal decomposition––phase diagram representation and occurrence, in Phase Diagrams: Materials Science & Technology Vol. 5, edited by A. Alper (Academic Press, New York, 1978), pp. 127–185.

    Google Scholar 

  4. J. Hanna: Investigations of Fe30Ni20Mn25Al25: A new highstrength spinodal alloy. M.S. Thesis, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. Cahn: Spinodal decomposition (1967 Institute of Metals Lecture). Trans. Metall. Soc. AIME 242, 166 (1968).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Cahn: On spinodal decomposition in cubic crystals. Acta Metall. 10, 179 (1962).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. D. de Fontaine: Configurational thermodynamics of solid solutions, in Solid State Physics Vol. 34: Advances in Research and Applications, edited by F. Seitz (Academic Press, New York, 1979), pp. 73–273.

    Google Scholar 

  8. W. Soffa and D. Laughlin: Decomposition and ordering processes involving thermodynamically first-order order → disorder transformations. Acta Metall. 37, 3019 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Misra, R. Gibala, and R. Noebe: Optimization of toughness and strength in multiphase intermetallics. Intermetallics 9, 971 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Singh and C. Wayman: Age-hardening characteristics of a martensitic Fe–Ni–Mn alloy. Mater. Sci. Eng. 94, 233 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. L. Schwartz and J. Plewes: Spinodal decomposition in Cu–9 wt% Ni–6 wt% Sn—II. A critical examination of mechanical strength of spinodal alloys. Acta Metall. 22, 911 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. M. Kato, T. Mori, and L. Schwartz: Hardening by spinodal modulated structure. Acta Metall. 28, 285 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. P. Munroe and I. Baker: Brittle fracture in B2 compounds, in George R. Irwin Symposium on Cleavage Fracture, edited by K. Chan (TMS, Warrendale, PA, 1997), pp. 329–345.

    Google Scholar 

  14. H-J. Gudladt, W. Wunderlich, and E. Costalas: The influence of microstructure on the mechanical properties of a spinodally decomposed Cu–Ni–Fe alloy. Z. Metallkd. 88, 642 (1997).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. I. Baker, P. Nagpal, F. Liu, and P. Munroe: The effect of grain size on the yield strength of FeAl and NiAl. Acta Metall. Mater. 39(7), 1637 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James A. Hanna.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hanna, J.A., Baker, I., Wittmann, M.W. et al. A new high-strength spinodal alloy. Journal of Materials Research 20, 791–795 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2005.0136

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2005.0136

Navigation