Microstructural characterization of as-cast Cr–B alloys

Accurate knowledge of several Me–B (Me – Metal) phase diagrams are important to evaluate higher order systems such as Me–Si–B ternaries. This work presents results of microstructural characterization of as-cast Cr–B alloys which are significant to assess the liquid compositions associated to most of the invariant reactions of this system. Alloys of different compositions were prepared by arc melting pure Cr and B pressed powder mixtures under argon atmosphere in a water-cooled copper crucible with non-consumable tungsten electrode and titanium getter. The phases were identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), using back-scattered electron (BSE) image mode and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In general, a good agreement was found between our data and those from the currently accepted Cr–B phase diagram.