Reactivity of Al-rich Alloys with Water Promoted by Liquid Al Grain Boundary Phases

doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2016.11.013

Abstract

Abstract:

Al-Ga-Sn, Al-Ga-In and Al-Ga-In-Sn alloys were prepared using arc melting technique. Their microstructures were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersed X-ray. Based on microstructure analysis, the phase constituents of alloys at Al grain boundaries were identified. The melting points of Al grain boundary phases were measured using differential scanning calorimeter. The reactivities of Al-water at different water temperatures indicate that liquid Al grain boundary phases promote Al-water reactions of alloys. The melting points of Al grain boundary phases affect the reaction temperatures of Al-water, leading to different reaction temperatures of alloys. The measured H₂ generation rate and yields of alloys are related to the compositions of alloys. The theory of micro-galvanic cell is used to explain the observed different H₂generation rates of alloys.

Key words: Al alloy, Microstructure, Composition, Reaction, Hydrogen generation rate

He Tiantian, Wang Wei, Chen Wei, Chen Demin, Yang Ke. Reactivity of Al-rich Alloys with Water Promoted by Liquid Al Grain Boundary Phases[J]. J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2017, 33(4): 397-403.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig. 1. XRD patterns of Al-Ga-Sn and Al-Ga-In alloys: (a) 3 wt% Al-Ga-Sn, (b) 6 wt% Al-Ga-Sn, (c) 8 wt% Al-Ga-Sn, (d) 10 wt% Al-Ga-Sn, (e) 12 wt% Al-Ga-Sn, (f) 15 wt% Al-Ga-Sn, (g) 15 wt% Al-Ga-In, (h) 3 wt% Al-Ga-In.

Fig. 2. Fracture surfaces of (a, b) 3 wt% Al-Ga-Sn alloys, (c, d) 15 wt% Al-Ga-Sn alloys, (e, f) 3 wt% Al-Ga-In alloys, (g, h) 15 wt% Al-Ga-In alloys.

Table 1 Compositions of Al-Ga-Sn alloys obtained using EDX

Sample	Spectrum	Phase	Element (at.%)
Sample	Spectrum	Phase	Al	Ga	Sn
3 wt%	1	G	98.12	1.88	0.00
3 wt%	2	GB	53.15	3.11	43.74
6 wt%	3	G	97.71	2.29	0.00
6 wt%	4	GB	21.21	5.67	73.12
8 wt%	5	G	97.36	2.64	0.00
8 wt%	6	GB	33.32	5.33	61.35
10 wt%	7	G	96.78	3.22	0.00
	8	GB	57.37	5.49	37.14
	9	GB	66.74	31.69	1.57
12 wt%	10	G	96.29	3.71	0.00
	11	GB	28.45	9.62	61.93
	12	GB	30.49	61.84	7.67
15 wt%	13	G	95.79	4.21	0.00
	14	GB	15.53	8.07	76.40
	15	GB	57.95	35.60	6.45

Table 2 Compositions of Al-Ga-In alloys obtained using EDX

Alloy	Spectrum	Phase	Element (at.%)
Alloy	Spectrum	Phase	Al	Ga	In
3 wt%	1	G	98.31	1.69	0.00
3 wt%	2	GB	66.16	1.45	32.39
15 wt%	3	G	95.03	4.97	0.00
	4	GB	18.56	5.67	75.77
	5	GB	50.40	7.06	42.54
	6	GB	62.95	32.03	5.02

Fig. 3. Phase diagram of Al-Ga-Sn alloy[29].

Table 3 Structural components of Al-Ga-Sn alloys calculated by lever rule (wt%)

Sample	Primary α-Al	(Al-Sn) eutectic	(Al-Ga-Sn) eutectic
3 wt%	95.61	4.39	0.00
6 wt%	91.43	8.57	0.00
8 wt%	88.63	11.37	0.00
10 wt%	89.91	2.78	7.31
12 wt%	87.85	3.30	8.85
15 wt%	84.82	4.12	11.06

Fig. 4. DSC curves of (a) Al-Ga-Sn and (b) Al-Ga-In alloys tested at the heating cycle.

Fig. 5. H2 production curves of Al-Ga-Sn alloys measured at water temperatures of (a) 10 °C, (b) 20 °C, (c) 30 °C, (d) 50 °C, (e) 60 °C, (f) 70 °C.

Fig. 6. H2 generation rates of Al-Ga-Sn alloys as a function of Ga-Sn content.

Fig. 7. H2 production curves of (a) 3 wt%, (b) 15 wt% Al-Ga-In alloys measured at different water temperatures.

Fig. 8. H2 generation rates of Al-Ga-In, Al-Ga-Sn and Al-Ga-In-Sn alloys as a function of water temperatures.

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