Formation of novel microstructures in conventionally cast Al–Fe–V–Si alloys

The present paper reports the formation of novel morphologies of intermetallic compounds during the solidification of different Al–Fe–V–Si alloys using cooling rates ranging from 1 to 20 K s −1. The influence of cooling rate, composition of the alloy and the addition of Mg and Ni–20%Mg alloy on the morphology of the intermetallic phases, particularly that of Al 13Fe 4 phase, is reported. Al 13Fe 4 forms with a ten-armed star shaped morphology with small amount of Si (