Site preference in NiAl—determination by thermal conductivity measurement

A contour map of thermal conductivity in a ternary intermetallic phase characterizes the direction of the contour ridge, and the ridge direction has been demonstrated to be a reliable indication of site preference of ternary elements in an intermetallic compound. Site preferences of fifteen kinds of ternary elements in NiAl are determined from the ridge direction of thermal conductivity contours in ternary β phase. It is found that V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Fe, Ru, Co and Pt substitute preferentially for nickel, while Ti, Mn, Ga, Si and Ge for aluminum, and Cr and Cu occupy both nickel and aluminum sites.