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A comparative study on the effects of three commercial Ti–B-based grain refiners on the impact properties of A356 cast aluminium alloy

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Abstract

The effect of three commercial Ti–B-based grain refiners on the impact properties of the A356 cast aluminium alloy was assessed. The impact tests were performed by means of an instrumented Charpy pendulum. During impact testing, the maximum load and the total impact energy, as well as its complementary contributions, the energy at maximum load and the crack propagation energy, were measured. Impact properties were studied as a function of size and shape of the main microstructural features, which were analysed by means of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the influence of grain refinement on microstructure involves beneficial and detrimental concurrent effects which strongly affect impact properties. The total impact energy decreases with the addition of all the grain refiners due to a shift from a mixed transgranular–intergranular fracture mode to a more severe transgranular mode. Crack initiation and propagation occur mainly through the fracture of Fe-intermetallics and brittle Si particles, and the mechanism of void coalescence. No direct correlation between grain size and impact properties is found. Moreover, the aspect ratio of eutectic Si particles does not change with grain refinement, implying that there are no mutual poisoning effects between Sr and B. Total impact energy is found to depend on both SDAS and β-platelets size. The concurrent effects of SDAS and β-platelets average maximum length on total impact energy can be taken into account by the multiple regression analysis technique.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the foundry “Fonderia Scacchetti Leghe Leggere s.r.l” of S. Felice sul Panaro (Modena, Italy) for the use of its installations and equipments. The authors also acknowledge Mr. Lorenzo Pivetti for his helpful contributions during foundry activities.

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  1. Engineering Department, University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, I-44122, Ferrara, Italy

    Daniele Casari, Mattia Merlin & Gian Luca Garagnani

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  1. Daniele Casari
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  2. Mattia Merlin
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  3. Gian Luca Garagnani
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Correspondence to Daniele Casari.

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Casari, D., Merlin, M. & Garagnani, G.L. A comparative study on the effects of three commercial Ti–B-based grain refiners on the impact properties of A356 cast aluminium alloy. J Mater Sci 48, 4365–4377 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7252-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7252-6

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