The columnar composites obtained “in situ” through solidification of Al61Cu27Fe12 alloy by the Bridgman method were studied. It has been verified that the matrix consisted of cubic single crystal β phase and the reinforcement of icosahedral quasicrystal ψ phase and monoclinic crystal λ phase, which have the form of rods. This kind of composites will be named the Al-Cu-Fe crystal-quasicrystal (CQ) composites. The effect of heating from a temperature of about 100°C to about 650°C on the stress-strain relationships σ(ε) of parallel samples was studied. Additionally, the σ(ε) relationship was defined in cyclic load-unload tests at different temperatures. The composites were examined by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope.

The microstructure of Al65Cu20Fe14 (numbers indicate at.%) alloy doped with 1 at.% of W was studied. The selected alloy composition should allow to obtain the quasicrystalline icosahedral phase after solidification process. The bulk samples were obtained in two stages. At first, the synthesis of alloy through premelting of component elements in induction furnace and then, the directional solidification by the Bridgman method were performed. The morphology of selected areas of the samples were studied using Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope, which was used to examine chemical compositions of each analysed areas. Additionally the X-ray powder diffraction was used to identify the phases present in the alloys. It was stated that the filaments of tungsten were present in the alloys. The filaments have thickness ranged from 0.01 to 2.5 μm. As a result of investigation, the arrangement of filaments in the material was determined.

The subject of the study was an examination of the lattice parameter variations of the constituent phases in CoSi2-Si eutectic composite according to the vertical axes of samples. A preparation of samples has been conducted using Bridgman and Czochralski techniques. The aim of the study was to establish an influence of applied preparation method on a stability of appropriate lattice parameters. It was shown that the constituent phases of the CoSi2-Si eutectic samples obtained via Czochralski technique are distinguished by a higher stability of the lattice parameter than samples obtained using Bridgman technique.

The current study were performed in order to assess the fabrication possibility of the metal-ceramic composites based on nanocrystalline substrates. The influence of the variable time of the high energy ball-milling (10, 30 and 50 h) on the structure, pores morphology and microhardness of Ti/ZrO 2 and Ti/Al 2 O 3 compositions was studied. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the composite formation for all milling times and sintering in the case of Ti/ZrO 2 system. Decomposition of substrates during milling process of Ti/Al 2 O 3 system was also observed. Additionally, the changes of lattice parameter as a function of milling time were studied. The morphology of powders and the microstructure of the sintered samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, analysis of microhardness and pores structure were performed.

The main goal of paper was obtaining of solid solution Co1-xFexSi2 crystals from liquid phase by Bridgman method. There are presented features and quality parameters of obtained ingots. It was found that the substitutional solid solution Co1-xFexSi2 crystals can be obtained only for x = 1at.% Fe.