Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Several compositions of the intermetallic alloy Ni3Al were examined with respect to (a) their wetting of Al2O3 and (b) their energy absorption capability in Al2O3/Ni3Al laminates. Wetting is enhanced by small additions of carbon (e.g., 0.1 at. %), and bonding by additions of zirconium (e.g., 1 at. %). Chevron-notched laminate specimens were tested in three-point bending to assess the energy absorption due to the presence of a thin layer of Ni3Al. A nickel aluminide with the composition Ni-22Al-lZr-0.1C-0.1B was found to have a reasonable combination of wetting, adhesion and energy absorption. Interfacial bonding was found to be weak in all laminates.