Solidification and Microstructural Evolution of Hypereutectic Al-15Si-4Cu-Mg Alloys with High Magnesium Contents

Abstract

The low coefficient of thermal expansion and good wear resistance of hypereutectic Al-Si-Mg alloys with high Mg contents, together with the increasing demand for lightweight materials in engine applications have generated an increasing interest in these materials in the automotive industry. In the interests of pursuing the development of new wear-resistant alloys, the current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Mg additions ranging from 6 to 15 pct on the solidification behavior of hypereutectic Al-15Si-4Cu-Mg alloy using thermodynamic calculations, thermal analysis, and extensive microstructural examination. The Mg level strongly influenced the microstructural evolution of the primary Mg₂Si phase as well as the solidification behavior. Thermodynamic predictions using ThermoCalc software reported the occurrence of six reactions, comprising the formation of primary Mg₂Si; two pre-eutectic binary reactions, forming either Mg₂Si + Si or Mg₂Si + α-Al phases; the main ternary eutectic reaction forming Mg₂Si + Si + α-Al; and two post-eutectic reactions resulting in the precipitation of the Q-Al₅Mg₈Cu₂Si₆ and θ-Al₂Cu phases, respectively. Microstructures of the four alloys studied confirmed the presence of these phases, in addition to that of the π-Al₈Mg₃FeSi₆ (π-Fe) phase. The presence of the π-Fe phase was also confirmed by thermal analysis. The morphology of the primary Mg₂Si phase changed from an octahedral to a dendrite form at 12.52 pct Mg. Any further Mg addition only coarsened the dendrites. Image analysis measurements revealed a close correlation between the measured and calculated phase fractions of the primary Mg₂Si and Si phases. ThermoCalc and Scheil calculations show good agreement with the experimental results obtained from microstructural and thermal analyses.