Effect of ternary additions of iron on microstructure and microhardness of the intermetallic NiAl in reactive sintering

This study investigates the possibilities to obtain intermetallic compounds starting from NiAl mixed powders with Fe powders. Their ductility at room temperature was improved by the use of reactive synthesis process which yields a product with high purity and by the added alloying element, which may lower the ordering energy of a non stoichiometry NiAl(Fe) phase. The addition of iron reduces the brittleness at room temperature. The modification of the long-range order parameters and the additional slip systems caused by disordering in the reactive synthesis can improve mechanical properties at room temperature.