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Effect of Grain Refinement and Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Secondary Al-Si-Cu Alloys

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Abstract

The effect of AlTi5B1 grain refinement and different solidification rates on metallurgical and mechanical properties of a secondary AlSi7Cu3Mg alloy is reported. While the Ti content ranges from 0.04 up to 0.225 wt.%, the cooling rate varies between 0.1 and 5.5 °C/s. Metallographic and thermal analysis techniques have been used to quantitatively examine the macro- and microstructural changes occurring with grain refiner addition at various cooling rates. The results indicate that a small AlTi5B1 addition produces the greatest refinement, while no significant reduction of grain size is obtained with a great amount of grain refiner. On increasing the cooling rate, a lower amount of AlTi5B1 master alloy is necessary to produce a uniform grain size throughout the casting. The combined addition of AlTi5B1 and Sr does not produce any reciprocal interaction or effect on primary α-Al and eutectic solidification. The grain refinement improves the plastic behavior of the alloy and increases the reliability of castings, as evidenced by the Weibull statistics.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Teksid Aluminum Spa (Carmagnola, Italy) for supporting this research. Many thanks to Dr. R. Molina and Mr. R. Di Matteo.

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  1. Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padova, Stradella S. Nicola, 3, 36100, Vicenza, Italy

    Giulio Timelli, Giordano Camicia & Stefano Ferraro

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  1. Giulio Timelli
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Correspondence to Giulio Timelli.

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Timelli, G., Camicia, G. & Ferraro, S. Effect of Grain Refinement and Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Secondary Al-Si-Cu Alloys. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 23, 611–621 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-013-0757-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-013-0757-y

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