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Damage by eutectic particle cracking in aluminum casting alloys A356/357

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Abstract

The strain dependence of particle cracking in aluminum alloys A356/357 in the T6 temper has been studied in a range of microstructures produced by varying solidification rate and Mg content, and by chemical (Sr) modification of the eutectic silicon. The damage accumulates linearly with the applied strain for all microstructures, but the rate depends on the secondary dendrite arm spacing and modification state. Large and elongated eutectic silicon particles in the unmodified alloys and large π-phase (Al9FeMg3Si5) particles in alloy A357 show the greatest tendency to cracking. In alloy A356, cracking of eutectic silicon particles dominates the accumulation of damage while cracking of Fe-rich particles is relatively unimportant. However, in alloy A357, especially with Sr modification, cracking of the large π-phase intermetallics accounts for the majority of damage at low and intermediate strains but becomes comparable with silicon particle cracking at large strains. Fracture occurs when the volume fraction of cracked particles (eutectic silicon and Fe-rich intermetallics combined) approximates 45 pct of the total particle volume fraction or when the number fraction of cracked particles is about 20 pct. The results are discussed in terms of Weibull statistics and existing models for dispersion hardening.

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Author notes

  1. Q. G. Wang (Ph.D. Student, Senior Materials Engineer)

    Present address: Co-operative Research Center for Cast Metals Manufacturing (CAST), The University of Queensland, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Materials Engineering, Powertrain Division, General Motors Corporation, 48340-2920, Pontiac, MI

    Q. G. Wang (Ph.D. Student, Senior Materials Engineer)

  2. the Division of Materials, School of Engineering, University of Queensland, 4072, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    C. H. Caceres (Senior Lecturer, Casting Technology)

  3. CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, 4069, Kenmore, QLD, Australia

    J. R. Griffiths (Senior Principal Research Scientist)

Authors
  1. Q. G. Wang
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  2. C. H. Caceres
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  3. J. R. Griffiths
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Wang, Q.G., Caceres, C.H. & Griffiths, J.R. Damage by eutectic particle cracking in aluminum casting alloys A356/357. Metall Mater Trans A 34, 2901–2912 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-003-0190-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-003-0190-1

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