Abstract
ABSTRACT
Multiple Rare earth elements are seen as by-products to rare earth mining efforts. By using one of these by-product elements in a high-volume application such as aluminum casting alloys; the supply of more valuable rare earths can be globally stabilized. Stabilizing the global rare earth market will decrease the long-term criticality of other rare earth elements. The lack of demand for Ce, the most abundant rare earth, contributes to the instability of rare extraction. In this report we discuss a series of intermetallic strengthened Al alloys that exhibit the potential for new high volume use of Ce. The castability, structure and mechanical properties of binary, ternary, and quaternary Al-Ce based alloys are discussed. We have determined Al-Ce based alloys to be highly castable across a broad range of compositions. Nano-scale intermetallic dominates the microstructure and is the theorized source of the high ductility. In addition, room-temperature physical properties appear to be competitive with existing aluminum alloys with extended high temperature stability of the nanostructured intermetallic. This research was sponsored by the Critical Materials Institute, an Energy Innovation Hub funded by U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing Office. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and with Oak Ridge National Laboratory under U.S. Department of Energy contract DE-AC05-00OR22725.
KEYWORDS: Alloy, Aluminum, Rare Earth, High Temperature, Cerium
