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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
Fe-Co-V-C quaternary alloys were drop cast and directionally solidified to obtain an in situ composite. It is found that the fully eutectic structure occurs at a composition of Fe - 40.5Co -10.4V- 8.6C (at. %) in a drop-cast alloy. Directional solidification of this composition in a high-temperature optical floating zone furnace produces a well-aligned microstructure, consisting of sub-micron VC fibers (~19% by volume) embedded in a FeCo-5V solid solution matrix containing ~ 1% C. The temperature dependencies of mechanical properties of this composite were examined by tensile tests and the composite was found to have higher yield strength and lower ductility than the matrix.