Abstract
Factors that influence the tensile mechanical properties of Al-7Si-Mg alloys A356/7 are critically analyzed. Different casting methods (SSM-HPDC, gravity die casting and investment casting), chemical composition variations and different temper conditions are considered. It is shown that the casting method employed has an influence on the primary α-Al structure, but does not influence the age-hardening response. The most important elements that influence mechanical properties are magnesium and iron. An equation to convert Vickers hardness to 0.2% proof stress in different temper conditions using the strain hardening exponent is proposed. Linear correlations between hardness, strength and (at% Mg-content available for precipitation hardening)1/2 are found. It is shown that ASTM Standard B969-10 needs to be revised.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ian Polmear, Light alloys: from traditional alloys to nanocrystals (Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006), 221–224.
D. Liu, H.V. Atkinson, P. Kapranos, W. Jirattiticharoean, and H. Jones, “Microstructural evolution and tensile mechanical properties of thixoformed high performance aluminium alloys,” Materials Science and Engineering A, 361 (2003), 213–224.
ASM Specialty Handbook: Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys (Materials Park, Ohio: ASM International, 1993), 718–721.
C.Y. Yang, S.L Lee, C.K. Lee, and J.C. Lin, “Effects of Be and Fe on the mechanical and corrosion behaviors of A357 alloys,” Materials Chemistry and Physics, 93 (2005), 412–419.
B.A. Dewhirst, “Optimization of the heat treatment of semi solid processed A356 aluminum alloy” (Masters Thesis, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2005), 1–5.
R. Bruwer, J.D. Wilkins, L.H. Ivanchev, P. Rossouw, and O.F.R.A. Damm (US Patent No. 7368690, 2008).
H. Möller, G. Govender, and W.E. Stumpf, “Natural and artificial aging response of semisolid metal processed Al-Si-Mg alloy A356,” International Journal of Cast Metals Research, 20 (2007), 340–346.
H. Möller, G. Govender, and W.E. Stumpf, “Investigation of the T4 and T6 heat treatment cycles of semi-solid processed aluminium alloy A356,” Open Materials Science Journal, 2 (2008), 11–18.
H. Möller, G. Govender, and W.E. Stumpf, “The natural and artificial aging response of semi-solid metal processed alloy A356,” Solid State Phenomena, 141–143 (2008), 737–742.
H. Möller, G. Govender, W.E. Stumpf, and P.C. Pistorius, “Comparison of the heat treatment response of semisolid metal processed alloys A356 and F357,” International Journal of Cast Metals Research, 23 (2010), 37–43.
H. Möller, G. Govender, and W.E. Stumpf, “Application of shortened heat treatment cycles on A356 automotive brake calipers with respective globular and dendritic microstructures,” Transactions of the Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 20 (2010), 1780–1785.
H. Möller, “Optimisation of the heat treatment cycles of CSIR semi-solid metal processed Al-7Si-Mg alloys A356/7” (Doctoral Thesis, University of Pretoria, South Africa, 2011).
H. Möller, G. Govender, P. Rossouw, and W.E. Stumpf, “The influence of prior natural aging on the subsequent artificial aging response of aluminium alloy A356 with respective globular and dendritic microstructures,” Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2011, Article ID 375150.
J.A. Taylor, D.H. StJohn, and M.J. Couper, “Solution treatment effects in Al-Si-Mg casting alloys,” Aluminum Transactions, 4–5 (2001), 111–124.
C.H. Caceres, J.R. Griffiths, Q.G Wang, and C.J. Davidson, “The effect of Mg on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of Al-Si-Mg casting alloys,” Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 30 (1999), 2611–2618.
M. Rosso, E. Romano, P. Giordano, and G.L. Chiarmetta, “Mechanical and microstructural characterization of semisolid rheocast A356 and A357 aluminum alloys for automotive applications” (Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Advanced semi-solid processing of alloys and composites, Tsukuba, Japan, 2002), 151–156.
M. Badiali, C.J. Davidson, J.R. Griffiths, and A. Zanada, “Fatigue properties of semisolid cast Al-7Si-0.3Mg-T6 alloy” (Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on Semi-solid Processing of Alloys and Composites, Turin, Italy, 2000), 349–354.
P.A. Rometsch, and G.B. Schaffer, “An age hardening model for Al-7Si-Mg casting alloys,” Materials Science and Engineering A, 325 (2002), 424–434.
G. Sha, H. Möller, W.E. Stumpf, J.H. Xia, G. Govender, and S.P. Ringer, “Solute-nanostructures and their strengthening effects in Al-7Si-0.6Mg alloy F357” (Submitted to Acta Materialia, 2011).
T. Bogdanov, and J. Dahlström, “The influence of copper on an Al-Si-Mg alloy A356 — Microstructure and mechanical properties” (Bachelor’s thesis, Jönköping University, Sweden, 2009), 33.
Q.G. Wang, “Plastic deformation behavior of aluminum casting alloys A356/357,” Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 35 (2004), 2707–2718.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Möller, H., Govender, G., Stumpf, W. (2012). Factors Influencing Tensile Mechanical Properties of Al-7Si-Mg Casting Alloys A356/7. In: Suarez, C.E. (eds) Light Metals 2012. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48179-1_79
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48179-1_79
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-48570-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-48179-1
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)