Abstract:
The effect of cerium on the oxidation of powdered alloys of aluminum and cerium during heating in air at temperatures up to 1773 K was studied using derivatography, x-ray phase analysis, and thermal desorption of argon. It is established that the rate and completeness of the oxidation of aluminum increase if it is alloyed with cerium. The effect of cerium is due to its polyvalence, high reactivity, and surface activity toward aluminum. Structural and phase nonuniformities that arise during the growth of oxide phases on the surface of oxidized particles of the alloys enhance the interaction of these particles with air oxygen. It is shown that the assumptions that the surfaces of the alloys have a micrononuniform structure and are enriched with CeAl$_2$ and CeAl$_4$ groups are valid.