Correlation of deformation mechanisms with the tensile and compressive behavior of NiAl and NiAl(Zr) intermetallic alloys

Local structure of NiAl compounds investigated by extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy

The local structures of pure NiAl and Ti-, Co-doped NiAl compounds have been obtained utilizing extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The results provide experimental evidence that Ni antisite defects exist in the Ni-rich NiAl compounds. The site preference of Ti and Co has been confirmed. Ti occupies the Al sublattice, while Co occupies the Ni sublattice. The structure parameters obtained by EXAFS were consistent with the X-ray diffraction results. Owing to the precipitation of α-Cr, the local structure of NiAl-Cr has not been obtained, making the site preference of Cr unclear.

Influence of Dislocation-Solute Interactions on The Mechanical Properties of Zirconium-Doped NiAl

Atom probe field ion microscopy (APFIM) has been used to characterize NiAl microalloyed with molybdenum and zirconium. Field ion images and atom probe analyses revealed segregation of zirconium to dislocation strain fields and ribbon-like morphological features that are probably related to dislocations. These results provide direct experimental evidence in support of the suggestion that the tremendous increase in the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) in zirconium-doped NiAl is due to pinning of dislocations by zirconium atoms. Atom probe analyses also revealed segregation of zirconium to grain boundaries. This result is consistent with the change from an intergranular fracture mode in undoped NiAl to a mixture of intergranular and transgranular fracture mode in zirconium-doped NiAl. The NiAl matrix was severely depleted of the solutes molybdenum and zirconium. Small Mo-rich precipitates, detected in the matrix and grain boundaries, are likely to contribute to the significant increase in the room-temperature yield stress of microalloyed NiAl through a precipitation hardening mechanism.