X-ray analysis of microstructure in Au–Fe melt spun alloys

Abstract Supersaturated Au 80 Fe 20 and Au 70 Fe 30 solid solutions have been obtained by rapid solidification. The lattice constant a 0 of the as-quenched FCC phase was of 4.025 and 3.989 A for Au 80 Fe 20 and Au 70 Fe 30 , respectively. Thermal treatments have been performed in the temperature range between 320°C and 550°C. A precipitation reaction has been observed in Au 80 Fe 20 only after prolonged annealing at low temperature (320°C/168 h). In Au 70 Fe 30 an increase in the lattice constant has been observed after thermal treatments, giving values ranging from 3.998 to 4.044 A. Precipitation occurs at grain boundaries and into grains. Low-temperature annealings give lamellar precipitates, which grow and transform into globules at higher temperatures. A Williamson–Hall plot for the FCC phase shows a significant scatter due to occurrence of planar defects. A detailed analysis of microstructure have been obtained by Rietveld analysis of peak broadening. Precipitation reaction leaves a Fe-depleted matrix, which shows a cristallite size of about 200 A and an r.m.s. microstrain of 6×10 −3 . Compound fault probability has been estimated from asymmetric peak profile.