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Novel Joining Technique for Oxide-Dispersion Strengthened Iron Aluminide Alloys--Materials & Electrochemical Research (MER) Corp., 7960 South Kolb Road, Tucson, AZ  85706; 520-574-1980

Dr. Jared L. Sommer, Principal Investigator

Dr. R. O. Loutfy, Business Official

DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-00ER83041

Amount:  $100,000

 

Oxide-dispersion strengthened iron aluminide alloys have been shown to exhibit high creep strength and excellent corrosion resistance.  Joining the alloys by fusion is difficult because the dispersed oxides agglomerate, thus compromising the mechanical properties of the base material.  Diffusion bonding is a technique in which two surfaces can be joined at high temperature and pressure without affecting the oxide dispersion.  A novel modified diffusion-bonding technique is proposed that can potentially allow joining of oxide-dispersed intermetallic materials at lower temperatures with shorter processing times than conventional diffusion bonding, without disturbing the oxide dispersion within a matrix or using additional alloying elements.  Oxide-dispersed iron aluminide and ferritic alloys will be successfully joined using the new diffusion-bonding technique.  The effectiveness of the joining technique will be evaluated through tensile testing at room temperature and high temperatures.

 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  The novel joining process can be applied to a wide variety of “difficult-to-weld” metallic materials, particularly if the desired material properties are dependent upon textured or oxide-dispersion strengthened microstructures.