Microstructure and chemistry of Al–V–Fe–Si nanoquasicrystalline alloys

Rapidly solidified Al94V4Fe2 alloys have been produced by the single roller melt spinning technique. The microstructures were analysed using TEM and the fine-scale chemistry was studied using EDX. The tensile and hardness properties were investigated and the effect of heating on the microstructures was analysed using a combination of DSC and in situ TEM heat treatments. crostructures of all of the ribbons were found to consist of solute-rich nanoscale quasicrystalline and crystalline particles in an aluminium-rich fcc matrix. It was found that the higher the quench rate, the finer the microstructures. The addition of silicon to the master alloys had the effect of further reducing the scale of the microstructure. ensile testing of the ribbons, it was found that although some of the UTS values were high, up to 960 MPa, the scatter of data was large. The scatter in the hardness test data was lower, indicating that the material could potentially be developed for use in compressive applications.