Compression studies on particulate composites of ternary Al-Ti-Fe, and quaternary Al-Ti-Fe-Nb and Al-Ti-Fe-Mn L1(2) compounds

Compression studies were conducted on monolithic and TiB2 particulate-reinforced composites of Al22Fe3Ti8, both with and without minor quaternary alloying additions (2 at. pct Nb and 2 at. pct Mn) as a function of temperature and as a function of strain rate at high temperature. The volume fraction of reinforcement was varied between 0 and 20 percent. The particulate reinforcements were found to be effective in increasing ambient- and warm-temperature strength; at high temperatures, the monolithic material is stronger than the composites, although the composites are superior at slow strain rates. The microstructures of the monolithic and composite specimens were examined before and after deformation to explain these observations.