Effect of Si on growth kinetics of intermetallic compounds during reaction between solid iron and molten aluminum

The effect of Si on the growth kinetics of intermetallic compounds during the reaction of solid iron and molten aluminum was investigated with a scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope, and hot-dip aluminized experiments. The results show that the intermetallic layer is composed of major Fe2Al5 and minor FeAl3. The Al-Fe-Si ternary phase, tau(1)/tau(9), is formed in the Fe2Al5 layer. The tongue-like morphology of the Fe2Al5 layer becomes less distinct and disappears finally as the content of Si in aluminum bath increases. Si in the bath improves the prohibiting ability to the growth of Fe2Al5 and FeAl3. When the contents of Si are 0, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 3.0%, the activation energies of Fe2Al5 are evaluated to be 207, 186, 169, 168, 167 and 172 kJ/mol, respectively. The reduction of the activation energy might result from the lattice distortion caused by Si atom penetrating into the Fe2Al5 phase. When Si atom occupies the vacancy site, it blocks easy diffusion path and results in the disappearance of tongue-like morphology.