Part II – February 1968 - Papers - Activity of Aluminum in Al-Fe Alloys at 1315°C

The activity of aluminum in liquid Al-Fe alloys .has been measured by an improved version of the transportation method in which the metallic vapor has been collected by its solution in a metallic condenser. The results can be represented by the equation: log yAl = -3.0(1 - xAl2) (0.6 < XAl < 1.0) This equation applies at 1315°C. MORRIS and zellarsl adapted the transportation method for measuring the vapor pressure of a com- ponent of an alloy at high temperature. We have modified their technique further2 for use with metals that are strong oxide formers. In the present case the method has been applied to the Al- Fe system to obtain the activity of aluminum in the liquid region at 1315°C. Dried ultrahigh-purity hydrogen (Matheson) is the carrier gas. The operations, Fig. 1, of deoxidizing the gas, equilibrating the gas with the sample at 1315";, and then collecting the aluminum vapor are all accomplished within a single, continuous alumina tube to avoid contamination of the system by leaks. De-oxidation to a very low level of PO2 (<10-25 atm) is Obtained by passing the hydrogen through a tightly packed bed of aluminum powder. The temperature of this bed increases to approximately 550°C in the direction of the gas flow. The boat containing three pellets of the alloy is supported on the end of a