Direct electrochemical formation of different phases Al-Y alloys by codeposition in LiCl-KCl melts

Electrochemical preparation of different phases Al-Y alloys were investigated in LiCl-KCl-AlCl₃-Y₂O₃ melts at 773 K by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry, open circuit chronopotentiometry and polarization curve. The electrochemical measurements show that the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Y on pre-deposited Al forms two Al-Y intermetallic compounds. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicate that the two different Al-Y intermetallic compounds are Al₂Y and α-Al₃Y. The microstructure and the micro-zone chemical composition of Al-Y alloys were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), respectively. The results illustrate that element Y is mainly distributed on nubby precipitates. Different phases Al-Y alloys can be obtained by adjusting the concentration of AlCl₃.