Effect of cerium addition on microstructures of carbon-alloyed iron aluminides

The effect of Ce addition on the microstructure of carbon-alloyed Fe₃Al-based intermetallic has been studied. Three different alloys of composition, Fe-18.5Al-3.6C, Fe-20.0Al-20C and Fe-19.2Al-3.3C-0.07Ce (in at%), were prepared by electroslag remelting process. Their microstructures were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopies. Stereological methods were utilized to understand the observed microstructures. All the alloys exhibited a typical two-phase microstructure consisting of Fe₃AlC carbides in an iron aluminide matrix. In the alloy without Ce addition, large bulky carbides were equally distributed throughout the matrix with many smaller precipitates interspersed in between. In the alloy with Ce addition, the carbide grain sizes were finer and uniformly distributed throughout the matrix. The effect of Ce addition on the carbide morphology has been explained based on the known effect of Ce in modifying carbide morphology in cast irons.