Phase equilibria between solid aluminium and liquid in Al-Cu and Al-Cu-Fe systems

Abstract

Tie lines and equilibrium partition coefficients have been measured between liquid and solid in Al rich Al-Cu-Fe alloys by probe microanalysis. Specimens were prepared by equilibration in two and three phase regions, followed by rapid ‘anvil’ quenching. The solidus of the binary Al-Cu system is found to be 50% higher than previously reported leading to a higher value of partition coefficient for copper k ₀^cu, and this is unaffected by the presence of Fe. The solid solubility of Fe in fcc Al, and the partition coefficient k ₀^Fe in Al-Cu-Fe, are both higher than previously suspected.