Copper’s Influence on Reactions in the Fe–Al Equimolar System: Microstructure and Phase Development

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Materials Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran.

2 Department of Civil Engineering, Birjand University of Technology, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

Due to their suitable properties, iron aluminides have found numerous applications in various industries such as in the production of gas turbines, automotive combustion systems, corrosion-resistant coatings, heat exchanges, electrical and magnetic devices, and energy storage technologies. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of copper content on the phase formation path and microstructure of products resulting from reactions that can be carried out in the Fe-Al-Cu powder system. For this purpose, samples with different copper contents (0, 0.2, 0.32 and 0.4 atom percent) and equimolar Fe and Al were prepared from elemental powders. The powders were compressed into disk shapes after mixing. Then, they were sintered at 950°C for 24 hours. The type of phases produced was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the microstructure of the samples was determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with (EDX). The results showed that the type of phases produced changed depending on the amount of copper. The sample without copper only led to the formation of the FeAl phase. The addition of 0.2% copper also resulted in the formation of the CuAl₂ phase alongside the iron aluminide. Further increase to 0.32% copper led to the formation of the ω phase and at 0.4% copper, the I phase. Also, the amount of copper affected the amount of porosity produced in the samples.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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AUT Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 10, Issue 2
April 2026
Pages 243-252

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