Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia:

V. Yu. Bazhin, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Metallurgy, e-mail: bazhin_vyu@pers.spmi.ru
N. A. Gordevnin, Master’s student of the Department of Metallurgy, e-mail: s222647@stud.spmi.ru

LLC “Gazpromneft Science & Technology Centre”, Saint-Petersburg, Russia:

S. A. Savchenkov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Head of the Direction, e-mail: savchenkov.tlc@bk.ru

This work investigates the synthesis process and characterization of a novel type of aluminum-ytterbium master alloy in molten salts. The significance of the obtained results for the research conducted in the field so far is due to the previously proven effectiveness of the influence of ytterbium on the structure and properties of aluminum alloys. During experimental work, the thermodynamic analysis of the aluminothermic process of ytterbium fluoride reduction from molten salts was performed and revealed that the process might occur and develop in the presence of sodium fluoride and potassium chloride if the NaYbF4 precursor is formed. Subsequently, the temperature intervals of thermal effects during the process of reduction of ytterbium from its fluoride in molten salts (NaF – KCl) by aluminum were determined as a result of thermal analysis. During Al – Yb master alloys synthesis experiments, the maximal value of ytterbium extraction to master alloy of 82.5% was achieved by changing the process parameters, such as temperature, reaction time, and molten salts/aluminium ratios. Besides, master alloys containing ytterbium from 1.1 to 5.1 wt.% were synthesized using the optimized technological process conditions and examined with metallographic analysis. The analysis revealed that the microstructure of the synthesized master alloys is presented by eutectic colonies of Al + Al₃Yb composition located along the boundaries of α-Al dendritic cells. It was found that about 85.5% of the area of the studied samples with ytterbium content of 5.1 wt.% consist of aluminum dendrites with an average cell size of 25 μm. The presented in this research results are of significant importance for the development of cheap and high-quality aluminum alloys.

1. Zhang S., Du H., Yao Z., Liu Z., Zhu Y., Shuai L., Huang T., Huang X., Tao X., Mondal D. P., Akopyan T., Belov N. Superior High Temperature Creep Resistance of a Cast Al – Mg – Ca – Sc Alloy with Multi-Scale Hierarchical Microstructures. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2022. Vol. 850. 143533.
2. Nikitin K. V., Nikitin V. I., Timoshkin I. Y., Deev V. B. Effect of Adding Rare-Earth and Alkaline-Earth Metals to Aluminum-Based Master Alloys on the Structure and Properties of Hypoeutectic Silumines. Metallurgist. 2021. Vol. 65, Iss. 5-6. pp. 681–688.
3. Deev V., Prusov E., Shurkin P., Ri E., Smetanyuk S., Chen X., Konovalov S. Effect of La Addition on Solidification Behavior and Phase Composition of Cast Al – Mg – Si Alloy. Metals. 2020. Vol. 10, Iss. 12. 1673.
4. Deev V. B., Prusov E. S., Shurkin P. K., Ri E. H., Smetanyuk S. V. Cerium Effect on the Phase Composition and Crystallization Behavior of Aluminum Casting Alloys Based on the Al – Mg – Si System. Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals. 2021. Vol. 62, Iss. 4. pp. 424–430.
5. Shoppert A., Loginova I., Napol’skikh J., Valeev D. High-Selective Extraction of Scandium (Sc) from Bauxite Residue (Red Mud) by Acid Leaching with MgSO₄. Materials. 2022. Vol. 15, Iss. 4. 1343.
6. Cheremisina O. V., Cheremisina E., Ponomareva M. A., Fedorov A. T. Sorption of Rare Earth Coordination Compounds. Journal of Mining Institute. 2020. Vol. 244, Iss. 4. pp. 474–481.
7. Ri E. H., Ri Hosen, Khimukhin S. N., Ermakov M. A., Khimukhin T. S. Production of Aluminum Alloys Modificator from Master Alloy. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 2018. Vol. 13, Iss. 4. pp. 1265–1271.
8. Cheremisina O., Ponomareva M., Sergeev V., Mashukova Y., Balandinsky D. Extraction of Rare Earth Metals by Solid-Phase Extraction from Phosphoric Acid Solution. Metals. 2021. Vol. 11, Iss. 6. 991.

9. Belov N. A., Akopyan T. K., Korotkova N. O., Naumova E. A., Pesin A. M., Letyagin N. V. Structure and Properties of Al – Ca (Fe, Si, Zr, Sc) Wire Alloy Manufactured from As-Cast Billet. JOM. 2020. Vol. 72, Iss. 11. pp. 3760–3768.
10. Aryshenskii E., Lapshov M., Hirsch J., Konovalov S., Bazhenov V., Drits A., Zaitsev D. Influence of the Small Sc and Zr Additions on the As-Cast Microstructure of Al – Mg – Si Alloys with Excess Silicon. Metals. 2021. Vol. 11, Iss. 11. 1797.
11. Algendy A. Y., Liu K., Rometsch P., Parson N., Chen X. G. Evolution of Discontinuous/Continuous Al3(Sc, Zr) Precipitation in Al – Mg – Mn 5083 Alloy During Thermomechanical Process and Its Impact on Tensile Properties. Materials Characterization. 2022. Vol. 192. 112241.
12. Yashin V. V., Aryshensky E. V., Drits A. M., Latushkin I. A. Effect of Hafnium Transition Metal Additives on the Microstructure of 01570 Aluminum Alloy. Tsvetnye Metally. 2020. No. 11. pp. 84–90. DOI: 10.17580/tsm.2020.11.12
13. Zakharov V. V., Rostova T. D. Hardening of Aluminum Alloys Upon Alloying Them with Scandium. Metal Science and Heat Treatment. 2013. Iss. 12. pp. 24–29.
14. Wei Jiang, Xiaobin Guo, Yunlai Deng. Anisotropic Response in Mechanical Behavior of Additively Manufactured Al – Mn – Sc Alloys by In-Situ EBSD Tensile Tests. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2022. Vol. 858. 144155.
15. Zipeng Shi, Renhua He, Yang Chen, Hong Yan, Honggun Song, Chao Luo, Qiao Nie, Zhi Hu. Microstructural Evolution and Strengthening Mechanisms of a Novel Al – 11Si – 3Cu Alloy Microalloyed with Minor Contents of Sr and Sc. Materials Science and Engineering: A. 2022. Vol. 853. 143738.
16. Hongfeng Huang, Mai Jiang, Lili Wei, Chong Liu, Shuai Liu. Microstructural and Mechanical Behavior of Al – Mg – Mn – Sc – Zr Alloy Subjected to Multiaxial Forging at Room Temperature. Materials Characterization. 2021. Vol. 171. 110734.
17. Yukun Ma, Yanan Liu, Mingxing Wang. Microstructures and Corrosion Resistances of Hypoeutectic Al – 6.5Si – 0.45Mg Casting Alloy with Addition of Sc and Zr. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2022. Vol. 276. 125321.
18. Zakharov V. V., Fisenko I. A. On Scandium Saving in Case of Making Scandium Alloying Addition to Aluminium Alloys. Tekhnologiya Legkikh Splavov. 2013. Iss. 4. pp. 52–60.
19. Zakharov V. V., Fisenko I. A. On the Possibility of Creation of Aluminium Alloys with Minimal Scandium Content. Tekhnologiya Legkikh Splavov. 2015. Iss. 4. pp. 40–44.
20. Medvedev A. E., Murashkin M. Y., Enikeev N. A., Valiev R. Z., Hodgson P. D., Lapovok R. Enhancement of Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Al – RE Alloys by Optimizing Rare-Earth Concentration and Thermo-Mechanical Treatment. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2018. Vol. 745. pp. 696–704.
21. Zakharov V. V., Filatov Y. A. Modern Trends in the Development of Aluminum Alloys Doped with Scandium. Tekhnologiya Legkikh Splavov. 2022. Vol. 3. pp. 9–18.
22. Cannon J. F., Hall H. T. Effect of High Pressure on the Crystal Structures of Lanthanide Trialuminides. Journal of the Less Common Metals. 1975. Vol. 40, Iss. 3. pp. 313–328.
23. Knipling K. E., Dunand D. C., Seidman D. N. Criteria for Developing Castable, Creep-Resistant Aluminum-Based Alloys – A review. International Journal of Materials Research. 2006. Vol. 97, Iss. 3. pp. 246–265.
24. van Dalen M. E., Karnesky R. A., Cabotaje J. R., Dunand D. C., Seidman D. N. Erbium and Ytterbium Solubilities and Diffusivities in Aluminum as Determined by Nanoscale Characterization of Precipitates. Acta Materialia. 2009. Vol. 57, Iss. 14. pp. 4081–4089.
25. Liu X., Xue J., Guo Z., Zhang C. Segregation Behaviors of Sc and Unique Primary Al3Sc in Al – Sc Alloys Prepared by Molten Salt Electrolysis. Journal of Materials Science & Technology. 2019. Vol. 35, Iss. 7. pp. 1422–1431.
26. Pozdnyakov A. V., Barkov R. Y., Levchenko V. S. Influence of Yb on the Phase Composition and Mechanical Properties of Low-Scandium Al – Mg – Mn – Zr – Sc and Al – Mg – Cr – Zr – Sc Alloys. Fizika Metallov i Metallovedenie. 2020. Vol. 121, Iss. 1. pp. 93–98.
27. Hong Y. A. N., Fanhui C., Zhenghua L. I. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlSi₁₀Cu₃ Alloy with (La + Yb) Addition Processed by Heat Treatment. Journal of Rare Earths. 2016. Vol. 34, Iss. 9. pp. 938–944.
28. Wang W., Yi D., Hua W., Wang B. High Damping Capacity of Al – 40Zn Alloys with Fine Grain and Eutectoid Structures via Yb Alloying. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2021. Vol. 870. 159485.
29. Su Mi Jo, Kyung Chul Park, Byeong Ho Kim, Hisamichi Kimura, Sung Kyun Park, Yong Ho Park. Investigation on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Mg – Al – Yb Alloys. Materials Transactions. 2011. Vol. 52, Iss. 6. pp. 1088–1095.
30. Chen K. H., Fang H. C., Zhang Z., Chen X., Liu G. Effect of of Yb, Cr and Zr Additions on Recrystallization and Corrosion Resistance of Al – Zn – Mg – Cu Alloys. Materials Science and Engineering. 2008. Vol. 497, Iss. 1-2. pp. 426–431.
31. Booth-Morrison C., Dunand D. C., Seidman D. N. Coarsening Resistance at 400°C of Precipitation-Strengthened Al – Zr – Sc – Er Alloys. Acta Materialia. 2011. Vol. 59, Iss. 18. pp. 7029–7042.
32. Vo N. Q. et al. Bayansan D., Sanaty-Zadeh A., Ramos E. H., Dunand D. C. Effect of Yb Microadditions on Creep Resistance of a Dilute Al–Er–Sc–Zr Alloy. Materialia. 2018. Vol. 4. pp. 65–69.
33. Röyset J., Ryum N. Scandium in Aluminium Alloys. International Materials Reviews. 2005. Vol. 50, Iss. 1. pp. 19–44.
34. Barkov R. Y., Yakovtseva O. A., Mamzurina O. I., Loginova I. S., Medvedeva S. V., Proviryakov A. S., Mikhaylovskaya A. V., Pozdniakov A. V. Effect of Yb on the Structure and Properties of an Electroconductive Al – Y – Sc Alloy. Fizika Metallov i Metallovedenie. 2020 Vol. 121, Iss. 6. pp. 667–672.
35. Wen S. P., Gao K. Y., Huang H., Wang W., Nie Z. R. Role of Yb and Si on the Precipitation Hardening and Recrystallization of Dilute Al – Zr Alloys. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2014. Vol. 599. pp. 65–70.
36. Kovalskaya K. V., Gorlanov E. S. Al – Ti – B Master Alloys: Structure Formation in Modified Alloys. Tsvetnye Metally. 2022. No. 7. pp. 57–72. DOI: 10.17580/tsm.2022.07.06
37. Nikitin K. V., Nikitin V. I., Deev V. B., Timoshkin I. Y. The Structure of AlFe5 Master Alloys Produced from Recyclable  Scrap Steel and Its Effect on the Properties of Aluminium Alloys. Tsvetnye Metally. 2020. No. 8. pp. 75–81. DOI: 10.17580/tsm.2020.08.10

38. Kosov Ya. I., Bazhin V. Yu., Kopylova T. N. Effect of the Technological Parameters of the Aluminothermic Reduction of Erbium Oxide in Chloride–Fluoride Melts on the Transition of Erbium to a Master Alloy. Russian metallurgy (Metally). 2019. Iss. 9. pp. 856–862.
39. Skachkov V. M., Yatsenko S. P. Obtaining of Sc, Zr, Hf and Y Base Metals on the Basis of Aluminum by Method of High-Temperature Exchange Reactions in Salt Melts. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 3. pp. 22–26.
40. Yatsenko S. P., Skachkov V. M., Krasnenko T. I., Pasechnik L. A. Diffusion-Hardening Alloys: Synthesis, Properties and Application. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 3. pp. 59–63.
41. Ding W., Zhao X., Chen T., Zhang H., Liu X., Cheng Y., Lei D. Effect of Rare Earth Y and Al–Ti–B Master Alloy on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of 6063 Aluminum Alloy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2020. Vol. 830. 154685.
42. Bazhin V. Yu., Savchenkov S. A., Kosov Ya. I. Specificity of the Titanium-Powder Alloying Tablets Usage in Aluminium Alloys. Non-ferrous Metals. 2016. Iss. 2. pp. 52–56. DOI: 10.17580/nfm.2016.12.11
43. Kozlovskiy G. A., Makhov S. V., Moskvitin V. I., Popov D. A. Technical and Economic Efficiency of Production of Aluminum Master Alloys Containing Ti, Zr and B from Different Raw Materials. Tsvetnye Metally. 2017. No. 3. pp. 53–56. DOI: 10.17580/tsm.2017.03.08
44. Sokolova Y. V., Pirozhenko K. Y., Makhov S. V. Concentration of Scandium During Processing the Sublimate of Production of the Aluminum-Scandium Master Alloy. Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals. 2015. Vol. 56, Iss. 1. pp. 10–14.
45. Savchenkov S. A., Bazhin V. Y., Brichkin V. N., Ugolkov V. L., Kasymova D. R. Synthesis of Magnesium-Zinc-Yttrium Master Alloy. Letters on Material. 2019. Vol. 9, Iss. 3. рр. 339–343.
46. Belov N. A., Naumova E. A., Doroshenko V. V., Korotkova N. O., Avxentyeva N. N. Determination of the Parameters of a Peritectic Reaction that Occurred in the Al-Rich Region of the Al – Ca – Mn System. Physics of Metals and Metallography. 2022. Vol. 123, Iss. 8. pp. 759–767.
47. Development Strategies for Non-Ferrous Metallurgy in Russia. URL: https://www.garant.ru/products/ipo/prime/doc/70595824/ (accessed: 16.11.2022).
48. Sultanbekov R., Beloglazov I., Islamov S., Ong M. C. Exploring of the Incompatibility of Marine Residual Fuel: A Case Study Using Machine Learning Methods. Energies. 2021. Vol. 14, Iss. 24. 8422.
49. Gabdulkhakov R. R., Rudko V. A., Pyagay I. N. Methods for Modifying Needle Coke Raw Materials by Introducing Additives of Various Origin. Fuel. 2022. Vol. 310. 122265.
50. Yurak V. V., Dushin A. V., Mochalova L. A. Vs Sustainable Development: Scenarios for the Future. Journal of Mining Institute. 2020. Vol. 242, Iss. 2. pp. 242–247.
51. Kudinova A. A., Poltoratckaya M. E., Gabdulkhakov R. R., Litvinova T. E., Rudko V. A. Parameters Influence Establishment of the Petroleum Coke Genesis on the Structure and Properties of a Highly Porous Carbon Material Obtained by Activation of KOH. Journal of Porous Materials. 2022. Vol. 29, Iss. 5. pp. 1599–1616.
52. Kondrasheva N. K., Rudko V. A., Nazarenko M. Y., Gabdulkhakov R. R. Influence of Parameters of Delayed Asphalt Coking Process on Yield and Quality of Liquid and Solid-Phase Products. Journal of Mining Institute. 2020. Vol. 241, Iss. 1. pp. 97–104.

53. Sultanbekov R., Islamov S., Mardashov D., Beloglazov I., Hemmingsen T. Research of the Influence of Marine Residual Fuel Composition on Sedimentation Due to Incompatibility. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2021. Vol. 9, Iss. 10. 1067.
54. Belsky A. A., Gluchanicz D. Y., Carrizosa M. J., Starshaya V. V. Analysis of Specifications of Solar Photovoltaic Panels. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2022. Vol. 159. 112239.
55. Polyakov E. G., Nechaev A. V., Smirnov A. V. Metallurgy of Rare Earth Metals. 2^nd ed. Moscow: Izdatelstvo Yurait, 2022. 501 p.
56. Gabriella B., Cardinale A. M., Parodi N., Cacciamani G. Aluminium Compounds of the Rare Earths: Enthalpies of Formation of Yb – Al and La – Al Alloys. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 1997. Vol. 247, Iss. 1-2. pp. 141–147.
57. Pasturel A., Chatillon-Colinet C., Percheron-Guégan A., Achard J. C. Thermodynamic Study of the Valence State of Ytterbium in YbAl₂ and YbAl₃ Compound. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 1983, Vol. 90, Iss. 1. pp. 21–27.
58. Jin L., Kang Y.-B., Chartrand P., Fuerst C. D. Thermodynamic evaluation and optimization of Al – Gd, Al – Tb, Al – Dy, Al – Ho and Al – Er systems using a Modified Quasichemical Model for the liquid. CALPHAD. 2010. Vol. 34, Iss. 4. pp. 456–466.
59. Meng F. G., Zhang L. G., Liu H. S., Liu L. B., Jin Z. P. Thermodynamic Optimization of the Al–Yb Binary System. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2008. Vol. 452, Iss. 2. pp. 279–282.
60. Li H., Gao K., Gao C., Ding Y., Xiong X., Wu X., Huang H., Wen S., Nie Z., Zhang Q. Hardness and Young’s Modulus of Al3Yb Single Crystal Studied by Nano Indentation. Intermetallics. 2020. Vol. 127. 106980.