Thermal stability and thermal shock resistance of Fe2AlB2

The nanolaminated ternary boride Fe2AlB2 exhibits a combination of damage tolerance, electrical conductivity, and machinability at room temperature. This work reports for the first time on the thermal stability and thermal shock resistance of Fe2AlB2 at high temperatures. The thermal stability of Fe2AlB2 at temperatures up to 1300 degrees C in Ar atmosphere was studied. Fe2AlB2 intensively decomposed at 1236 degrees C in Ar atmosphere. The thermal shock resistance was investigated using the water-quenching method in the temperature range 600-1200 degrees C. The residual strength of the quenched Fe2AlB2 decreased continuously with increasing temperatures. The phase composition, phase transformation and microstructure were characterized with X-ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy.