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Linear evolution of the γ′-(Ni, Cu)3Al phase composition in Cu-based high-temperature alloys

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Abstract

The ordered γ′-(Ni, Cu)3Al is a crucial strengthening phase that improves the high-temperature resistance of Cu-based alloys, so it is important to predict the kinetic evolution of the composition and microstructure of the phase for high-temperature applications. Herein, this paper discusses the temporal evolution of the composition and coarsening of the γ′ phase in a model ternary Cu50Ni37.5Al12.5 (at%) alloy during isothermal aging at 600, 700, 800, and 900 °C for 1–36 h. It is found that the γ′ phase composition evolves linearly toward a binary γ′ phase as the aging time increases during the process of aging at 800 and 900 °C, which cannot be predicted by the ternary phase diagrams alone. Meanwhile, through the utilization of the aforementioned linear law, the γ phase composition can be predicted at a given temperature within the alloy by determining the volume fraction of the γ′ phase. Additionally, the activation energy for coarsening decreases, and the coarsening rate of the γ′ phase increases owing to the higher diffusion rate of Cu at high temperatures. The addition of microalloying elements with strong enthalpic interactions is beneficial for reinforcing the structural stability of the γ′ phase. This work provides a simple method for the compositional analysis and performance prediction of Cu–Ni–Al alloys at elevated temperatures and sheds light on the subsequent compositional design and optimization of Cu-based high-temperature alloys.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.: 52071052).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, Dalian, 116024, China

    Yinglin Hu, **aona Li, Chengwen Wang, Yuandi Hou, Min Li, Shuyuan Xue, Shuaixin Zhang & Chuang Dong

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian, 116024, China

    Chuang Dong

  3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, 241000, China

    Zhumin Li

  4. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Nonferrous Metals (Lanzhou University of Technology), Lanzhou, 730050, China

    Yuehong Zheng

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  1. Yinglin Hu
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Contributions

Yinglin Hu contributed to writing—original draft, data curation, investigation, and formal analysis; **aona Li contributed to conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, and supervision; Chengwen Wang, Yuandi Hou, Min Li, Shuyuan Xue, and Shuaixin Zhang contributed to writing—review and editing and formal analysis; Chuang Dong contributed to conceptualization and writing—review and editing; and Zhumin Li and Yuehong Zheng contributed to writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to **aona Li or Chuang Dong.

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Hu, Y., Li, X., Wang, C. et al. Linear evolution of the γ′-(Ni, Cu)3Al phase composition in Cu-based high-temperature alloys. J Mater Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-09855-3

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