The 1200 K compressive properties of N-containing NiAl

As part of a series of experiments to understand the role of N on the strength of NiAl, a heat of NiAl was enriched with N by melting and atomization to powder in a nitrogen atmosphere. Following consolidation of the powder by hot extrusion, 1200 K compressive properties were measured in air. Within the range of strain rates examined, 10(exp -3) to 10(exp -9) s(exp -1), the strength of the N-enriched NiAl was greater than that of a simple 15 micron grain size polycrystalline, binary NiAl alloy. For the most part the overall improvement in strength is ascribed to the fine grain size of the N-doped NiAl rather than the alloy chemistry; however, the alloy displayed a complex behavior exhibiting both weakening effects as well as strengthening ones.