Rare-earth metals (REMs) in nickel aluminide-based alloys: II. Effect of a REM on the phase composition of a multicomponent Ni3Al-based alloy

The hardening mechanisms are studied in the cast high-temperature next-generation materials that are based on the intermetallic compound Ni₃Al and are low alloyed with refractory (W, Re, Mo, Cr) and reaction- and surface-active (REM, Ti, etc.) metals. The interaction of the main impurities (C, O, Si, S) with three characteristic representatives of the REM group (namely, Y, La, Ce), which can be used for alloying, is analyzed. The reported data on the behavior of some REMs in the alloys based on nickel monoaluminide NiAl are considered. The effect of the REMs on the phase compositions of real multicomponent semicommercial Ni₃Al-based VKNA alloys produced by directional solidification is investigated, and the excess phases precipitating upon alloying are revealed. Alloying with refractory metals and REMs is shown to lead to the formation of nanophases that stabilize the dendritic or single-crystal structure of VKNA-type cast alloys and strengthen the interface boundaries in them.