Porous FeAl intermetallics fabricated by elemental powder reactive synthesis

Fabrication of porous FeAl intermetallics has been realized through the Fe and Al elemental powder reactive synthesis. The swelling behavior, synthesis process and microstructure of the porous FeAl intermetallics fabricated by reactive synthesis have been systematically studied. The pore structural parameters as a function of the sintering temperature have also been systematically investigated. It has been confirmed that the pore evolution in the porous FeAl intermetallics is attributed to the following four steps: the inter-particle pores formed during the pressing procedure, the Kirkendall pores formed during the solid-state sintering, pore formed through the liquid Al reaction, and the phase transformation during the high temperature sintering.