Study on Fine Structure of Gas Atomized LaNi5-based Alloys

The fine structure of hydrogen storage alloy powders MINi4.3-xCoxMn0.4Al0.3(x=0.75, 0.45, 0.10; MI: La-rich mischmetal) prepared by rapidly solidifying gas atomization was investigated using a Rietveld analysis method. Two setsof CaCu5-type crystal constants were observed in the studied alloys and one set was larger than the other. Withdecreasing powder radius the solidification rate of powder increased, and so did the percentage of a particle partwith larger crystal constants. The reason why there were two sets of crystal constants might be the difference ofsolidification rate between the outside and inside of a particle.