Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Fe3Al-Based Alloys with Vanadium and Carbon Additions by Small Punch Test

Additions of carbon and carbide-forming elements can positively influence high temperature mechanical properties of alloys based on Fe3Al intermetallic compound. In the present study, the effect of vanadium and carbon additions on mechanical properties of Fe3Al-type alloy is investigated by a combination of small punch tests and conventional tensile and compressive tests. The constant-deflection mode of the small punch test is used to estimate the properties and their temperature dependence. The yield force and the maximum force are evaluated from the force vs. deflection dependence and compared with the corresponding quantities resulting from conventional tests. The comparison is discussed in terms of equations suggested previously by Mao and Takahashi. Modifications suggested recently by Garcia et al. are taken into account as well. Fractographic observations of ruptured specimens are performed with scanning electron microscope. Temperature dependence of small punch test quantities is related to the microscopic image of the fracture. Equivalent fracture strain is evaluated from both small punch test data and microscopic observation of fractured specimens. The relation between equivalent fracture strain and small punch fracture energy is examined. Fracture toughness is calculated from the equivalent fracture strain. Temperature dependence of calculated fracture toughness supports the conclusion that the ductility of investigated alloys is not deteriorated by the presence of carbides