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Alternative Air Induction Melt–Remelt Processing of an Fe3Al–C Intermetallic Alloy: Part I—Mechanical Properties and the Effects of Loading Rate, Heat Treatment and Test Temperatures

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Abstract

Iron aluminides based on Fe3Al intermetallic structure are known by their good corrosion and oxidation resistance. However, the hydrogen embrittlement is an issue generated by passive Al2O3 formation due to Al reaction with atmospheric water vapor. Thus, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of loading rate, heat treatment and temperature of test on the mechanical properties of a Fe–Al–C alloy. Mechanical properties analysis and the incidence of hydrogen embrittlement were performed in a Fe3Al–C alloy (Fe–15.2Al–1.1C wt%), which was melted and remelted in an induction furnace. Tensile and Charpy impact tests were carried out at room temperature (as-cast and heat-treated conditions) and temperatures up to 600 °C, in order to evaluate the influence of different temperatures, heat treatment, and load rates (tensile and impact) on hydrogen embrittlement. Furthermore, the fractography was performed by SEM, helping to understand the fracture mechanisms. The heat treatment generated specimens with higher tensile resistance, however, with no effect on impact resistance, demonstrating that hydrogen embrittlement generates more damage in lower load rate tests. The tests at higher temperatures demonstrated improvement in the impact and tensile properties and regarding all conditions the fracture after tensile tests presented more brittle aspects than after impact tests.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the MIB – Materials Institute of Brazil by the partnership during the D.Sc. thesis development as also the support of the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development—CNPq—Brazil through a PhD scholarship (2009–2013), Process Number: 140634/2009-6. The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time due to technical or time limitations.

Funding

This study received financial support from National Council of Technological and Scientific Development—CNPq—Brazil through a PhD scholarship (2009–2013), process number: 140634/2009-6

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. São João Del Rei Federal University (UFSJ), Campus Santo Antônio, Praça Frei Orlando, 170, Centro, São João Del Rei, MG, 36307-352, Brazil

    Artur Mariano de Sousa Malafaia & Carolina Aurélia Ribeiro Maestro

  2. São Paulo University, Av. João Dagnone, 1100, Jd. Sta. Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil

    Marcelo Falcão de Oliveira

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  1. Artur Mariano de Sousa Malafaia
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Correspondence to Artur Mariano de Sousa Malafaia.

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de Sousa Malafaia, A.M., Maestro, C.A.R. & de Oliveira, M.F. Alternative Air Induction Melt–Remelt Processing of an Fe3Al–C Intermetallic Alloy: Part I—Mechanical Properties and the Effects of Loading Rate, Heat Treatment and Test Temperatures. Inter Metalcast 16, 1265–1275 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-021-00679-4

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