Refinement of Fe4Al13 in Al-Fealloys by plasma remelting process

Refinement of the Fe4Al13 phase in Al-Fe (wt-%) alloys has been achieved by a plasma remelting process. The refinement effect is enhanced by increases of discharge current and argon flux. The average size of the Fe4Al13 is 40 mum in Al-1Fe alloy melted using an electric resistance furnace. This can be reduced to 0.4 mum by a plasma remelting process. Similarly, the average size of the Fe4Al13 in Al-5Fe alloy can be decreased from 60 to 3 mum by p lasma remelting. The refinement is considered to be an effect of the decrea se of cluster size retaining genetic information in the Al-Fe alloy melt, t he homogenisation of microstructure in the melt, and the increased undercoo ling during solidification. (C) 2001 IoM Communications Ltd.