Thermal behavior of the as-cast Cu–11Al–10Mn alloy with Sn and Gd additions

In this work, the effects of 3Gd and 3Sn additions on thermal behavior of the as-cast Cu–11Al–10Mn alloy (compositions in mass%) have been studied using differential thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, magnetization measurements with applied field and X-ray diffractometry. The results have shown that the melting point of the as-cast Cu–11Al–10Mn alloy is modified with addition of Sn. As-cast samples of the Cu–11Al, Cu–11Al–3Gd and Cu–11Al–3Sn alloys were solidified with microstructures and phase relationships near those found in as-quenched samples. Magnetization curves with applied field indicated that the presence of Sn increases the saturation magnetization, whereas Gd decreases the value of this property, as compared with as-cast Cu–11Al–10Mn alloy. This behavior suggests a higher amount of ferromagnetic Cu 2 AlMn ( β 3 ) phase in the as-cast Cu–11Al–10Mn–3Sn alloy, showing that the Sn modifies the phases equilibrium in the as-cast Cu–11Al–10Mn alloy.