Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of melt-spun Ni-10Si-10Fe super alloys

Rapid solidification processing (RSP) involves exceptionally high rates of cooling (104–108 K/s) during solidification from the molten state. RSP allows a reduction in grain size, extended solid solution ranges, reduced levels of segregation and, in some cases, the formation of metastable crystalline and amorphous phases. Due to their excellent resistance to oxidation and corrosion, nickel-based alloys are used in a wide spectrum of applications like seawater applications, the aerospace industry, heat exchangers, jet engines, steam generators and nuclear reactors. Rapidly solidified Ni-10Si-10Fe alloys were produced by melt-spinning technique. The phase characteristics were idendified by X-ray diffractometry. The microstructue of the rapidly solidified sample were determined by scanning electron microscopy. The microhardness features of the rapidly solidified sample were tested by Vickers microhardness test. The phases present in the Ni-10Si-10Fe sample was determined to be α-Ni, βNi3Si, γ-Ni31Si12 and δ-Ni2Si phases. The microhardness values of the rapidly solidified sample are about 850 HV.