Preparation and analysis of Pr-Ga-Al alloys

Abstract

Pr-Ga-Al alloys were prepared from individual praseodymium, gallium and aluminum purified from oxide films in an inert atmosphere of the glove box. The Ga-Al phase diagram was used to choose the eutectic composition (2.1 mol. % Al). The metals were mixed in a certain proportion in crucibles (BeO) and annealed at 832.4±1.7 °C and 366.2±6.3 °C for 19 hours and 53 hours, respectively. Three ingots were obtained with different praseodymium content. The alloys were investigated by X-ray phase analysis, scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction technique. A general chemical analysis was also performed. Depending on praseodymium content the alloys consisted of PrGa6 intermetallic compound phase; a mixture of PrGa6 and ϵ-PrGa2 IMCs; and ϵ-PrGa2 phase. Ternary intermetallic compounds of praseodymium were not detected. A small addition of aluminum does not affect the phase characteristics of intermetallic compounds of praseodymium in alloys. © 2019 Author(s).