Metastable Phases and Defect Microstructures in Melt-Spun Ribbons of Nb3Al

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe phases and defects produced in a binary alloy, with nominal composition Nb-18at.% Al, have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition to the equilibrium A15 phase (Nb3Al) a previously unreported Nb-rich B2 phase is present. A significant number of grow-in dislocations were observed in the A15 phase, these have b= a<100> and are predominantly screw on character. They are dissociated into two partial dislocations which bound a stacking fault according to the reaction;<100> → > 1/2 <100> + SF + 1/2 <100>The habit plane of the fault is shown to be {012}. These observations are compared with previous studies performed on the isostructual compound V3Si. The consequences of the observed dissociation for the plastic deformation of Nb3Al are discussed.