Abstract:Al-Ti diffusion couples were made by embedded technology and treated at the temperature between the melting points of Al and Ti. The microstructure evolution and growth mechanism of the Al-Ti DRZ were investigated. The result shows that the DRZ, the mixture of TiAl₃ and Al, grows layer by layer along their chemical equilibrium zone. In the course, the growth interface moves toward the aluminum side. TiAl₃ is the only new phase which forms earliest in the course of heat-treatment. The growth mechanism of the DRZ changes after the phase transition of titanium. Before the phase transition of titanium, the growth of the DRZ is controlled by the dissolution speed of the titanium to the molten aluminum, while after the phase transition of titanium, the growth is controlled by the chemical reaction speed of Al and Ti atoms, and consequently, its growth rate is greatly increased.

Key words: Al-Ti liquid-solid interface; diffusion-reaction zone; microstructure evolution; growth mechanism