Features of Phase Formation During Aluminothermal Preparation of Aluminum-Erbium Master Alloy

A lack of domestic technology for preparing aluminum-erbium master alloy intended for improving the physicomechanical properties of aluminum alloys gives rise to the importance of creating technology for aluminothermal reduction of erbium compounds from chloride-fluoride melts. Thermodynamic analysis of aluminothermal reduction of erbium fluoride and oxide taking account of intermetallic compound Al₃Er formation makes it possible to determine the thermodynamic possibility of the process. The phase composition of fluxes used for preparing master alloy of the Al–Er system from erbium fluoride and oxide is studied. Experimental data are provided for aluminothermal preparation of Al–Er master alloy from erbium fluoride and oxide. The effect of mixing melt and preliminary remelting a mixture of salts and zernolite, and the structure and phase composition of the master alloy specimens obtained are studied.