Microstructures and microhardness evolutions of melt-spun Al–8Ni–5Nd–4Si alloy

Al–Ni–Nd–Si alloy with nominal composition of Al–8 wt.%Ni–5 wt.%Nd–4 wt.%Si was rapidly solidified by using melt-spinning technique to examine the influence of the cooling rate/conditions on microstructure and mechanical properties. The resulting conventional cast (ingot) and melt-spun ribbons were characterized by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy together with energy dispersive spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, differential thermal analysis and Vickers microhardness tester. The ingot alloys consists of four phases namely α-Al, intermetallic Al3Ni, Al11Nd3 and fcc Si. Melt-spun ribbons are completely composed of α-Al phase. The optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy results show that the microstructures of rapidly solidified ribbons are clearly different from their ingot alloy. The change in microhardness is discussed based on the microstructural observations.