ABSTRACT
The aluminium-rich intermetallic compounds of the Al3X-type with transition metals (X = Ti, Zr, Nb, V ) of groups IVb and Vb are of interest in the development of novel high temperature and light weight structural materials. The Al3X compounds of main interest are: Al3Ti and Al3Nb with ordered DO22 superlattice structure and some modified ones of the composition (Al, X)3 Ti with L12 type of crystal structure. The important aspects of these aluminium-rich intermetallics are:
– Aluminium atoms are the main constituents of 75 at.%
– The low density of less than 3.5 Mg m−3 (Al3Ti)
– High elastic moduli and high melting points
