Phase Transformations in Low-Fe Alloys of the Al-Cu-Fe System

Microstructure and phase transformation in the Al-Cu-Fe alloys of the approximate compositional range of 20 -50 at.% Cu and 2 - 10 Fe at.% have been investigated from samples quenched from their respective temperatures by means of different thermal analysis, magnetothermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe analysis and powder X-ray diffraction. Representative phase transformations categorized as polymorphic, discontinuous precipitation,quasi-binary eutectoid, and ternary transitional U-type phase transformation are presented. These phase transformations were found to have a common feature which consumes the β phase and appears the φ phase. A schematic diagram was proposed to demonstrate the transition processes with decreasing temperature.