Study of the structure of Al90Gd10 alloy after thermobaric effect

High pressure affects the solidification of melts. High-pressure technology is an efficient way to produce alloys with improved physical and mechanical properties. Metallographic analysis was used to compare the structure of hypereutectic Al90Gd10 alloy samples obtained by the rapid cooling of a high-temperature melt in a toroid-type high-pressure chamber at normal and high pressures. The melt temperature before quenching was 2100 K, the cooling rate was 1000 deg/s, and pressure was from 8 to 10 GPa. High pressure ensured a change in the kinetic and thermodynamic conditions of alloy crystallization, cooling rate, diffusion rate, and, as a result, a change in the macro- and microstructure of the alloy. The sample obtained under normal pressure contained two equilibrium phases: α-Al (cubic, cF4/1) and Al3Gd (hex., P63/mmc). The samples obtained under high pressure had a quasi-eutectic structure, refinement was three orders of magnitude; the samples were homogeneous and dense; the degree of alloy hardening increased threefold.