Effect of pressure on pore structure of porous FeAl intermetallics

A series of porous FeAl intermetallics with nominal composition of Fe-25 wt.% Al was fabricated under pressure ranging from 60 MPa to 360 MPa by Fe and Al elemental powder reactive synthesis. The effect of pressure on the pore structure of the resultant porous FeAl intermetallics was systematically studied. Results show that open porosity, maximum pore size and permeability can be manipulated by varying the pressure. Permeability decreases with increasing pressure. Permeability (K), open porosity (θ) and maximum pore size (dm) were verified to meet the Hagen-Poiseuille equation. A universal equation of K = Adm2θ, with A = 0.2379, was established to reflect the relationship between the permeability and pore structure parameters for porous FeAl intermetallics fabricated under different pressure.