Equilibrium and metastable eutectics near the Ni3Al composition

Abstract

Ni3Al has been considerable research area due to its high temperature behavior increasing strength with increasing temperature. A series of directional solidification studies showed that the eutectic occurred between gamma'/beta and the metastable eutectic of gamma/beta forms under slightly different conditions, however, it is not well established whether the eutectic is composed of gamma/gamma', gamma'/beta, or gamma/beta. In order to understand solidification behavior of the eutectic structure, directional solidification experiments have been carried out with solidification rate near the Ni3Al composition in this study. The effects of the solidification rate and composition on formation of the equilibrium and metastable eutectics have been discussed. The (gamma'+gamma) coupled phase was also shown to form with the eutectic at the solid/liquid interface.