Micro-Vickers Hardness of Intermetallic Compounds in the Zn-rich Portion of Zn–Fe Binary System

Abstract

Annealing temperature and composition dependences of hardness for the intermetallic compound phases, especially Γ-Fe₄Zn₉, δ_1p-Fe₁₃Zn₁₂₆ and δ_1k-FeZn₇, which are obtained in Zn-rich portion of Fe–Zn alloys, were investigated by the micro-Vickers hardness test. Although the hardness of the Γ and δ_1k phases only slightly decreases with increasing quenching temperature, it shows obvious composition dependences. However, the hardness of the disordered δ_1p phase is basically lower than that of the ordered δ_1k phase, which is hardly affected by composition change. The hardness of all the Zn-rich compound phases quenched from 500°C (or 550°C) are evaluated and compared.