Effect of hot differential speed rolling on microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe3Al-based intermetallic alloy

Results of the first study on hot differential speed rolling (DSR) of Fe3Al-based intermetallic alloy are given in the present paper. The material was subjected to hot rolling at 1 100 degrees C with equal and non-equal (the DSR) speed of working rolls. The results of structural examinations indicate that the additional shear strain imposed to the material upon the DSR processing facilitates the activation of dynamic recrystallization. As opposed to the material hot deformed with equal speed of both rolls, the DSRed Fe3Al alloy was characterized by a fully transformed, close to equiaxed grain structure (average grain size of similar to 120 mu m). The observed structural evolution leads to a higher mechanical strength in DSRed samples as compared to the undeformed counterparts, however it does not result in a substantial improvement of the material's ductility.