Effect of Melting Process on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Fe–7 wt% Al Alloy

This article presents the effect of melting process on chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–7 wt% Al alloy. The alloy ingot was prepared by air induction melting (AIM), air induction melting with flux cover (AIMFC) and vacuum induction melting (VIM) and cast into 50 mm diameter split cast iron mould. These cast ingots were hot-forged and hot-rolled at 1,373 K to 2 mm thick sheet. Hot-rolled alloys were characterized with respect to chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. Ingots produced by AIM, AIMFC and VIM were free from gas porosity, however AIM ingots exhibited higher concentration of hydrogen as compared to AIMFC and VIM. The recovery of aluminium as well as reduction of oxygen during AIM is very poor as compared to AIMFC and VIM. AIMFC ingots exhibit low level of sulphur as compared to AIM and VIM ingots. The alloys produced by AIMFC and VIM exhibited superior tensile ductility compared to the alloys produced by AIM. The tensile properties of alloys produced by AIMFC are comparable to the alloys produced by VIM.