Abstract
Effect of solution treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-12Si-4Cu-2Ni-0.8Mg-0.2Gd alloy was investigated. Results show the Si particles become stable and more intermetallic compounds dissolve in the matrix after solution treatment at 500 °C for 2 h followed by 540 °C for 3 h (T4). The skeleton-like Al3CuNi develops into two parts in the T4 alloy: one is Al3CuNi which has the framework shape; the other is intermetallics including the Al3CuNi (size: 5–10 µm) and AlSiCuNiGd phases (size: ≤5 µm) with complex structure. Adding 0.2% Gd can improve the mechanical properties of the alloys after two-step solution treatment (500 °C/2 h followed by 540 °C/3 h), the hardness of the alloy increases from 130.9 HV to 135.8 HV compared with the alloy with one-step solution treatment (500 °C/2 h), the engineering strength increases from 335.45 MPa to 352.03 MPa and the fracture engineering strain increases from 1.44% to 1.67%.
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This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U1902220) and Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (No. 202101BE070001-041).
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Qu-dong Wang Male, born in 1964, Ph. D, Professor. His research interests mainly focus on the light-weight materials.
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Sui, Yd., Jiang, Yh. & Wang, Qd. Effect of solution treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Al-12Si-4Cu-2Ni-0.8Mg-0.2Gd alloy. China Foundry 19, 238–244 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-022-1076-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41230-022-1076-4