Microstructure of rapidly solidified high strength Al94V4Fe2 alloy

Al94V4Fe2 alloy melt-spun at different wheel velocities in the range of 20-50 m/s has been studied. The microstructure of the alloy consists of a nanoquasicrystalline phase in an Al matrix at slow cooling rates, while at higher cooling rates it shows nanodomains of an amorphous phase embedded in the Al matrix. The tensile fracture strength of the alloy reaches a maximum when it exhibits a nanocomposite microstructure consisting of quasicrystalline phase and Al. The composition of the quasicrystalline and amorphous phases has been identified using three dimensional atom probe field ion microscopy.