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Effect of Mn Addition on the Mechanical Properties of Al–12.6Si Alloy: Role of Al15(MnFe)3Si2 Intermetallic and Microstructure Modification

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Abstract

Effect of manganese (Mn) addition (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 and 3 wt%) on the microstructural morphology, hardness, tensile properties and fracture behaviour of the gravity cast eutectic Al–12.6Si alloy has been studied through XRD analysis, chemical analysis, optical metallography, FESEM analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, hardness test, tensile test and quantitative phase analysis. As-cast Al–12.6Si–0.0Mn alloy has a non-uniformly distributed coarser and irregular shape primary and eutectic silicon particles inside the α-Al phase, and both the Si phase have very sharp corners. Whereas, the 1 wt% Mn added alloy has uniformly distributed fine eutectic and primary Si particles with blunt corners. Further, the addition of 1.0 wt% Mn forms very few (0.26 vol %) irregular shape Al15(MnFe)3Si2 intermetallic phase within the α-Al phase and eutectic Si phase. But, 2.0 wt% and 3 wt% Mn added alloy has an irregular shape coarse plate-like Al15(MnFe)3Si2 intermetallic phase besides the primary and eutectic Si phase. The bulk hardness of the Al–12.6Si alloy is increased with an increase in Mn concentration as the harder Al15(MnFe)3Si2 intermetallic phase forms and both the Si phase morphology modify. The microhardness of the constituent phases also varies with the change in Mn concentration in the alloy. The Mn addition improved the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation (%) of the alloy. However, fractographs reveal that the brittle mode of fracture has been increased due to the presence of a higher volume of brittle Al15(MnFe)3Si2 intermetallic in 2.0 and 3.0% Mn alloy. On the other hand, the amount of brittle and cleavage fracture of Si particles decreased, and ductile fracture with dimples formation increased in 1.0 wt%Mn added alloy.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are very thankful to Mr. S C. Das and Mr. M. K. Das of the National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India, for their support in several phases of this investigation. Authors are also like to thank NIT, Durgapur RIG # 2 project for financial support, and the Director of National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India, for his continuous encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, Durgapur, West Bengal, 713209, India

    Prosanta Biswas, Surajit Patra & Manas Kumar Mondal

  2. Department of NDT and Metallurgy Group, CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, West Bengal, 713209, India

    Himadri Roy

  3. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India

    Chandra Sekhar Tiwary

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, Gujrat, 382355, India

    Manas Paliwal

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  1. Prosanta Biswas
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Biswas, P., Patra, S., Roy, H. et al. Effect of Mn Addition on the Mechanical Properties of Al–12.6Si Alloy: Role of Al15(MnFe)3Si2 Intermetallic and Microstructure Modification. Met. Mater. Int. 27, 1713–1727 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-019-00535-5

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