Phase-field Simulation of the Stability of Fe₂Al₅ Phase at Fe/molten Zn–Al Interface

Abstract

The stability of η-Fe₂Al₅ phase at α-Fe/molten Zn–0.1Al (wt.%) (L) interface at 723 K in Fe–Zn–Al ternary system was investigated by phase-field simulations. Thin layers of intermetallic compound (IMC) phases (η, Г-Fe₃Zn₁₀, Г₁-Fe₅Zn₂₁ and δ₁-FeZn₇) were placed between the α and L phases, and the growth of the IMC layers and the atomic diffusion of constituent elements along the direction perpendicular to the α/L interface were calculated by one-dimensional phase-field simulation. The simulation result showed that Г and Г₁ phases dissolved, and thin η phase and thick δ₁ phase remained stable at the α/L interface. Moreover, several phase-field simulations were performed by varying the values of interdiffusion coefficients in each phase. The simulation results showed that the diffusion and partitioning behaviors of Al have a significant effect on the stability of IMC layers at the α/L interface. It was found that the partitioning of Al to the α phase was suppressed due to the fact that the value of interdiffusion coefficient in the α phase was several orders of magnitude smaller than those in the IMC phases. The resultant Al partitioning to the IMC phases was the direct cause of the stabilization of the η phase and the destabilization of the Г and Г₁ phases.