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Thermal analysis via horizontal solidification of Al3Cu2Si (mass%) alloy: thermal and microstructural parameters, intermetallic compounds and microhardness

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Abstract

A transient horizontal solidification experiment was performed to investigate the role of the thermal parameters, such as growth and cooling rates (GR and CR, respectively), on the microstructure and microhardness (HV) of the Al2Si3Cu (mass%) alloy. Thermal data were generated using a water-cooled solidification device. This allowed to determine a large range of GR and CR. As-cast samples from the cooled surface were characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (MO and SEM). The resulting microstructure was characterized by an Al-rich dendritic primary phase (Alα) and by an interdendritic eutectic mixture composed of Alαeutectic + Si particle + (Al2Cu and Fe) intermetallic compounds. The Alα phase was characterized by primary, secondary and tertiary dendrite arm spacings (λ1, λ2 and λ3, respectively). The λ1, λ2 e λ3 dependence on GR and CR was characterized by power-type mathematical equations. It was evidenced the tertiary branches occurrence for GR > 0.95 mm s−1 and CR > 6.5 °C s−1. Microhardness (HV) was measured at the center of the dendritic primary phase and within the interdendritic regions. Higher HV values were observed in the eutectic mixture. Experimental power and Hall–Petch mathematical equations were proposed to characterize HV variation within the interdendritic region as a function of λ1, λ2 and λ3. A parametric factor given by the expression \(\varepsilon = \frac{\text{CR}}{{\left( {\mathop \sum \nolimits_{1}^{\text{n}} C_{\text{on}} } \right)/n}}\) that allows to predict the appearance of tertiary dendritic arms for the assumed solidification conditions was proposed by the present work, for future predictions. A comparison with the literature was conducted.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by IFPA - Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará, UFPA - Federal University of Pará; CNPq - National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Grants 302846/2017-4 and 400634/2016- 3) and CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil - Finance “Code 001.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará, Belém, 66093-020, Brazil

    Marlo O. Costa, Carolina R. Barbosa, Hugo M. Azevedo, Gabriel H. Machado, Fernando S. Rocha & Otávio L. Rocha

  2. Institute of Technology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, 66075-110, Brazil

    Marlo O. Costa, Antonio S. Moreira & Otávio L. Rocha

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  1. Marlo O. Costa
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  2. Carolina R. Barbosa
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Correspondence to Otávio L. Rocha.

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Costa, M.O., Barbosa, C.R., Azevedo, H.M. et al. Thermal analysis via horizontal solidification of Al3Cu2Si (mass%) alloy: thermal and microstructural parameters, intermetallic compounds and microhardness. J Therm Anal Calorim 146, 2059–2071 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-020-10419-1

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