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Effect of Er Addition and Solution Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hypoeutectic Al–10%Mg2Si–3.5%Cu Alloy

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Abstract

The effects of Er addition and solution treatment on the microstructure characteristics, tensile properties, and fracture behavior of a hypoeutectic Al–10%Mg2Si–3.5%Cu alloy were systematically studied. The results showed that the addition of 0.45 wt% Er to hypoeutectic Al–10Mg2Si alloy without and with the addition of 3.5 wt% Cu can significantly reduce the grain sizes of the eutectic Mg2Si phase and α-Al/Mg2Si eutectic cell, and transform the morphology of the eutectic Mg2Si from coarse Chinese characters to thin stripes, dots, and fibers. The modification of eutectic Mg2Si is attributed to the inhibition of Er on the heterogeneous nucleation of AlP by forming Er, P-containing phases, and the enrichment of Er atoms around eutectic Mg2Si, which inhibits the growth of eutectic Mg2Si and promotes a change in its growth direction. The solid solution treatment causes the eutectic Mg2Si to tend towards spheroidization, which is promoted by the addition of Er. The addition of 0.45 wt% Er simultaneously improves the strength and plasticity of the cast alloys without and with the addition of 3.5 wt% Cu. The solid solution treatment further improved the tensile properties of the studied alloys. The improvement in strength of the alloy after as-cast and T6 treatment is due to the obstruction of fine eutectic Mg2Si and containing-Er/Cu intermetallic compound particles on dislocations, while the improvement of plasticity mainly lies in the reduction of stress concentration and stress uniformity around eutectic Mg2Si and intermetallic compounds caused by the regularity and spheroidization of their morphology.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant Nos. 51971106), the Education Department of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. GJJ2202921, GJJ2202905), the Liaoning Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 2019-MS-171), and the Programs for Liaoning Innovative Talents and Liaoning Distinguished Professor.

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  1. Xiaofeng Wu and Fufa Wu have equally contributed to this work as first author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Nanchang Institute of Technology, Nanchang, 330108, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaofeng Wu

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou, 121001, People’s Republic of China

    Fufa Wu & Rongda Zhao

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Wu, X., Wu, F. & Zhao, R. Effect of Er Addition and Solution Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hypoeutectic Al–10%Mg2Si–3.5%Cu Alloy. Inter Metalcast (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-024-01346-0

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