Microstructural and chemical analysis of nanoscale particles in rapidly solidified Al-V-Fe

This paper outlines a combined transmission electron microscope and atom pr obe investigation of rapidly solidified Al94V4Fe2-(Si) alloys which have be en produced by melt spinning. In particular, the effect of silicon addition s to the melt has been investigated. The microstructures produced consist o f a high volume fraction of nanoscale particles, icosahedral and amorphous, embedded in the fee aluminium matrix. Addition of Si promotes the formatio n of amorphous rather than quasicrystalline particles. 3-dimensional atom p robe results show that both quasicrystalline and amorphous particles are st rongly enriched in all of the solute elements (V, Fe, Si). Evidence of solu te redistribution during dissolution and coarsening of the particles has al so been observed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.