Leaching of rapidly quenched Al$_{65}$Cu${20}$Fe$_{15}$ quasicrystalline ribbons

[摘要] In the present work, Al$_{65}$Cu$_{20}$Fe$_{15}$ alloy has been synthesized by melting of pure elements (e.g., Al (99.96%),Cu (99.99%) and Fe (99.98%)), using a radiofrequency induction melting furnace. The as-prepared alloy was subjected torapid solidification by melt spinning technique at $\sim$3500 rpm speed on a copper disk of diameter 14 cm. As a result of themelt spinning, nearly 2 mm wide, 30−40 $\mu$m thick and 4–5 cm long ribbons were formed. The structural and microstructuralcharacterizations were carried out by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques.We have performedleaching operation using 10 mol NaOH aqueous solution on the surface using a pipette. Leaching was performed for variousdurations ranging from 30 min to 8 h. After leaching, the reflectivity reduces and the surface looks reddish brown. Themicrostructure of the 8 h leached sample shows a breakdown of the quasicrystalline phase but with the evolution of othermetallic phases. Copper (Cu) particles are found to be present on the surface of quasicrystal after 4 h of leaching and relativelymore iron (Fe) evolves during further leaching of 8 h. This low-cost method to prepare a distribution of nano-Cu/Fe metalparticles encourages their uses in catalytic reactions, indicating the possibility of use of quasicrystals as the industrial catalysts.

[学科分类] 材料工程

[关键词] Quasicrystal;rapid solidification;leaching;catalyst.