STUDY OF THE PHASE TRANSFORMATION FROM (Fe, Mn)Al6 TO α-Al12(Fe, Mn)3Si IN AA3104 ALUMINUM ALLOY DURING HOMOGENIZATION
ZHANG Yonghao, ZHANG Zhiqing, Robert E. SANDERS, LIU Qing
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044
Cite this article:
ZHANG Yonghao ZHANG Zhiqing Robert E. SANDERS LIU Qing. STUDY OF THE PHASE TRANSFORMATION FROM (Fe, Mn)Al6 TO α-Al12(Fe, Mn)3Si IN AA3104 ALUMINUM ALLOY DURING HOMOGENIZATION. Acta Metall Sin, 2012, 48(3): 351-356.
Abstract The effect of heating temperature and holding time on the phase transformation from (Fe, Mn)Al6 to α-Al12(Fe, Mn)3Si in AA3104 aluminum alloy during homogenization was studied by BSE and EDS in SEM. The 3D morphology of the eutectic phases heated at 600 ℃ for different holding times was reconstructed by a novel serial sectioning method. Evolution of the microstructure could be revealed in 3D for the first time. Al spots were observed within the α-Al12(Fe, Mn)3Si phase and counted during different transformation stages. Large number of Al spots disappeared by diffusing into the neighboring matrix after extended heating times, while the volume of the α phase was also decreased at the same time. The microstructure of the α phase after transformation was analyzed, showing ‘duplex interfaces’created by partly transformed particles. The dense holes within α phase particles are believed to promote particle break up during hot rolling of the omogenized material.