Investigation of Phase Composition and Microstructure of the FeAl/Al2O3 Composites Fabricated by Mechanical Alloying Process and Pressureless Sintering Process

Abstract

The FeAl/Al2O3composites were fabricated by pressureless sintering process. The FeAl intermetallics compounds powders were fabricated by mechanical alloying and heat treatment process. The FeAl intermetallics compounds powders and Al2O3powders were mixed and the FeAl/Al2O3composite powders were prepared. The FeAl/Al2O3composites bulks were fabricated by pressureless sintering process at 1600°C for 2h. The phase composition and microstructure of FeAl intermetallics compounds powders produced by mechanical alloying and heat treatment were investigated. The phase composition and microstructure of the FeAl/Al2O3composites sintered bulks were investigated. The XRD patterns results showed that the Fe-Al intermetallics compounds powders were fabricated by mechanical alloying for 60h. The FeAl intermetallics compounds powders were fabricated by heat treatment at 800°C, 900°C and 1000°C. The microstructure showed that the mean particles size of the FeAl intermetallics compounds powders produced by mechanical alloying and heat treatment process was rather fine and about 4-5μm. The XRD patterns results showed that there existed the FeAl phase and Al2O3phase in sintered composites. The FeAl/Al2O3composites bulks exhibited the homogenous and compact microstructure. The mean particles size of FeAl was about 4-5μm and the mean particles size of Al2O3was about 5-10μm. The density and relative density of the FeAl/Al2O3composites increased gradually with the increase of FeAl content.