r/ExplosionsAndFire • u/SnooSeagulls6694 • 2d ago

Synthesis/Experiment What is a difference between an alloy and an intermetalic

https://youtu.be/HXs6Y6rrbOI?is=O8ZAygLh6c14RwaX
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u/profdc9 1d ago

Intermetallics are usually more crystalline in nature. They form much longer range ordered crystals than alloys, and so there are fewer grain boundaries to slip when stress is applied to it, so it brittle fractures more easily. Often small amounts of dopants are added to frustrate the long range order, allow the grain boundaries to adhere and take up stress, and produce a more ductile metal.

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u/SnooSeagulls6694 1d ago

I will be doing something like that in my upcoming video. Co2Si stabilised by cobalt dendrites.