The Fe–Ni–Al phase diagram in the Al-rich (>50 at.% Al) corner

The ternary Fe–Ni–Al phase diagram between 50 and 100 at.% Al was investigated by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Ternary phase equilibria and accurate phase compositions of the respective equilibrium phases were determined within the isothermal section at 850 °C. The crystal structure of τ1 (Fe_4−xNi_xAl₁₀) and τ2 (Fe_2−xNi_xAl₉) was determined by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The decagonal quasi-crystalline phase q (Fe_4.9Ni_23.4Al_71.7) was found to be stable between 850 °C and 930 °C. All experimental data were combined to yield a ternary reaction scheme (Scheil diagram) involving 10 ternary invariant reactions in the investigated composition range, and a liquidus surface projection was constructed based on DTA results.