The Effect of Aluminum Content on the Microstructure and Cavitation Wear of Feal Intermetallic Alloys

Intermetallic-based alloys (so called intermetallics) of the Fe-Al binary system are modern construction materials, which in recent decades have found application in many branches of the power, chemical and automotive industries. High resistance of FeAl based alloys to cavitational erosion results first of all from their high hardness in the as-cast state, large compressive stresses in the material, as well as homogeneous structure. In the present paper, the effect of aluminum content on the microstructure, texture and strain implemented upon cavitation wear of FeAl intermetallic alloys, have been analyzed by field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. Obtained results of structural characterization indicates that with increasing aluminium content effects of orientation randomization (weakening of <100>//ND casting texture), grain refinement and rising of mechanical strenght (and so cavitational resistance) take place.