METASTABLE PHASE AND AGE HARDENING IN RAPIDLY-SOLIDIFIED SILVER-RICH Ag-Gd ALLOYS
(Institute of Precious Metals, Kunming650221)
Abstract: The splat foils and spun ribbons of Ag-Gd alloys with 0.08 and 0.03mm in average thickness were made by hammer-anvil and spinning melt quenching technique, and the cooling rate was determined to be 106and 107 K/s, respectively. The metastable solid solubility limit of Gd reached 5.0%~6.0%, and a metastable intermediate phase with hexagonal lattice structure, Ag3Gd, was found in RS Ag-Gd alloys. A strong solid solution strengthening and age hardening response were observed. The precipitate phase which was responsible for the age hardening was identified to be Ag51Gd14 equilibrium intermediate phase.
Key words: metastable phase age hardening rapidly-solidified Ag-Gd alloy