Analysis of thermodynamic parameters for designing quasicrystalline Al-Ni-Fe alloys with enhanced corrosion resistance

Abstract In this work, the compositions of Al-Ni-Fe alloys were determined based on thermodynamic parameter optimization. Decagonal quasicrystalline phase D-Al70.83Fe9.83Ni19.34 was identified in the alloy with the highest Gibbs free energy of solid solution formation, i.e., Al71Ni24Fe5. According to this, the configurational entropy and enthalpy of solid solution formation must reach equilibrium to form quasicrystals in Al-Ni-Fe alloys. Differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction were used to describe the crystallization mechanism as a function of Fe concentration. 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy was used to describe the Fe local environment in crystalline alloys and quasicrystals. Moreover, the influence of quasicrystalline phases on improving the corrosion resistance was investigated. Quasicrystalline Al71Ni24Fe5 alloy had a six-times lower corrosion rate than its crystalline counterparts. Although this alloy showed the best corrosion resistance, all high-pressure cast Al-Fe-Ni alloys displayed improved corrosion resistance.