Experimental investigation of the Al–Ce–Ni system at 800 °C

The phase equilibria of the Al–Ce–Ni system at 800 °C in the region of 0–33.3 at.% Ce were reinvestigated by X-ray diffraction, metallography and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Ternary phases and their lattice parameters as a function of composition of solid solution were systematically investigated. The existence of five ternary phases reported previously was confirmed. Two new compounds were found to exist at 800 °C. Besides, liquid was observed at Ni-rich corner. The maximum solubility of Ni in binary compounds Al11Ce3, αAl3Ce and Al2Ce was determined to be 1.8, 0.6 and 5.5 at.%, respectively. The solubility of Ce in Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, AlNi and AlNi3 was less than 1 at.%. The solubility of Al in CeNi5, Ce2Ni7 and CeNi3 was measured to be 55.0, 5.2 and 13.1 at.%, respectively. A revised partial isothermal section of the Al–Ce–Ni system at 800 °C has been presented according to the present work.