Impact of the B2 ordering behavior on the mechanical properties of a FeCoMo alloy

A Fe - 25 at% Co - 9 at% Mo alloy can be hardened by nm-sized (Fe, Co)₇Mo₆ µ-phase precipitates which is accomplished by solution annealing in the austenite region followed by rapid quenching to room temperature and subsequent aging below the austenite transition temperature. In overaged condition the Mo-content in the remaining matrix drops towards zero and, therefore, the matrix consist of 71 at% Fe and 29 at% Co. The binary Fe-Co system shows a disorder-order, A2↔B2 transition at a critical ordering temperature between 25 at% and 72 at% Co. It is expected that the remaining matrix of an overaged Fe - 25 at% Co - 9 at% Mo alloy also exhibits such an ordering reaction. It will be demonstrated that the formation of a B2 ordered FeCo phase can be delayed or completely prevented by rapid quenching from temperatures above the critical ordering temperature. This has a strong impact on the mechanical properties of this alloy which have been studied by means of tensile, impact toughness and hardness testing. The evidence for a disorder-order transition in this alloy has been given by neutron diffraction as well as high resolution transmission electron microscopy.