Effect of deposition conditions of Fe100 − xNix (30 < x < 40) condensates on their structure

Condensates of Fe100 − xNix (30 < x < 40) alloy with thicknesses ranging from 40 to 110 μm were produced using electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD). The effect of substrate temperature on the phase composition, texture, thermal stability, and microhardness of the condensates has been investigated. It has been found that there is a threshold deposition temperature, below which the transformation of γ-phase to the mixture of γ + α phases occurs in the Fe-Ni condensates studied. Moreover, substrate temperature affects both the crystallographic texture and grain size of γ-phase: a decrease in the substrate temperature leads to the transition from a multi-component < 100 > + < 110 > + < 111 > fiber texture to a < 110 > one, while the grain size of γ-phase decreases to nanoscale values. It has been shown that α-phase in condensates formed at low substrate temperatures transforms into γ-phase during heating to temperatures 350–400 °C. Lowering substrate temperature leads to the hardening of the γ-phase in Fe-Ni condensates, while the increase of volume fraction of α-phase results in the decrease of their strength.