Fatigue properties and microstructure of quasicrystalline AlFeCrTi alloy

Aluminium based material having chemical composition of Al93Fe3Ti2Cr2 (at.%) was prepared by hot extrusion of gas atomised powder. Microstructure consisting of aluminium matrix and icosahedral quasicrystalline particles was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy a X-ray spectroscopy. Size, distribution and inner structure of quasicrystalline particles were determined. When quasicrystalline particles having submicron size were present in the microstructure together with fine-grained aluminium matrix, it resulted in enhancement of mechanical properties. Fatigue experiments were performed in load controlled regime with positive mean stress and fatigue life data for this quasicrystalline material were compared with similar results for commercially available aluminium alloys. Longer fatigue life together with higher fatigue strength reaching value of 350 MPa was observed. It is approx. 100 MPa higher than for commercially produced coarse-grained aluminium alloys. Fractographic observations revealed presence of fish eye fracture patterns and validity of weakest link fracture mechanism acting in this type of material under investigation.