Modification mechanism of cerium on the Al-18Si alloy

The effect of the rare earth cerium （Ce） on the hypereutectic Al-Si alloy under different casting states have been studied by optical microscope and quantitative image analysis. It is found that the size and the quantity of primary silicon in castings decrease with the increase of added Ce in the melt. Meanwhile primary silicon changes from branched shape to fine facetted shape. Although the modification on eutectic silicon in castings also improves with the increase of added Ce in the melt, the effect of modification on eutectic silicon away from primary silicon is more obvious than that on eutectic silicon close to primary silicon. The modification mechanism was analyzed in detail by means of scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive analysis of X-ray and thermodynamics analysis, which included the analysis on the change in standard Gibbs energy of reaction and reaction equilibrium.     

Effect of Ca addition on solidification microstructure of hypoeutectic Al-Si casting alloys

The effect of Ca addition on the solidification microstructure of hypoeutectic Al-Si casting alloys was investigated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) methods with particular attention focused on the change of morphologies of primary α-Al and eutectic silicon. Meanwhile,solute distribution in solid-liquid was simulated according to Scheil-Gulliver law. Results showed that primary α-Al and eutectic silicon were refined as Ca content increased because of the variation of the solute concentration in liquid. The addition of Ca increased the nucleation sites like Al_3Ti or Al_2 Cu to promote the nucleation of primary α-Al. Affected by modification effect of Ca,the shape of eutectic silicon changed from flake to fibrous structure. In addition,coarse plate Ca-rich phases could be found along the grain boundary with high Ca content.     

Effect of phosphor addition on eutectic solidification and microstructure of an Al-13％Si alloy

As the refiner or modifier, the master alloys containing high concentration phosphor are widely used in preparing eutectic or hypereutectic Al-Si alloys. To study the effect of phosphor addition on the eutectic solidification and microstructure of the Al-13%Si alloy, an investigation has been undertaken by means of thermal analysis and micro/macro-structure observation. Results indicate that addition of phosphor in near eutectic Al-Si alloy promotes the nucleation of eutectic but has little refinement impact on primary Si particles as expected. Conversely, both primary Si particles and eutectic Si flakes become slightly coarser in P-rich alloys. The coarsening of eutectic Si flakes ties closely to the increased eutectic growth temperature with phosphor addition. The eutectic solidification of the alloy proceeds from the near mold zone towards the center, and it is also found that a few independent nucleation regions emerge in liquid at the solidification front due to the addition of phosphor.     

Influence of Multi-pass Friction Stir Processing on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Die Cast Al–7Si–3Cu Aluminum Alloy

The influence of overlap multi-pass friction stir processing on the microstructure and the mechanical properties, in particular, strength, ductility and hardness of die cast Al–7Si–3Cu aluminum alloy was investigated.It was observed that increase in the number of overlap passes friction stir processing resulted in significant refinement and redistribution of aluminum silicon eutectic phase and elimination of casting porosities. The microstructural refinement by the friction stir processing not only increases the ultimate tensile strength from 121 to273 MPa, but also increases the ductility as observed by the increase in fracture strain from 1.8% to 10%. Analysis of the fractured surface reveals that the microstructural refinement obtained by friction stir processing plays a vital role in transforming the fracture mode from completely mixed mode to the ductile mode of the fracture with increasing number of passes. The change in the size, shape, morphology and distribution of eutectic silicon particles and elimination of the porosities are the main reasons for the increases in tensile strength and ductility due to friction stir processing.     

Effects of heat-treatment on microstructure of wrought magnesium alloy ZK60

The microstructure of the as-cast, as-solution-treated and as-aged wrought magnesium alloy ZK60 was studied. The results indicate that the microstructure of the as-cast ZK60 alloy is mainly composed of network eutectic （a-Mg＋MgZn） and divorced euteetic MgZn, which semi-continuously distribute along the grain boundaries or in the interdendritic area and almost dissolve into the matrix after solid solution treatment. The Laves phase MgZn2 is not sensitive to the heat treatment and seems to form at the early stage of solidification and keeps its size and shape till the aging stage. It is believed that the occurrence of the Laves phase in the ZK60 alloy would possibly contribute to the defects. Many new phases, including MgZn phase which is different from that forms during eutectic reaction, precipitate after aging treatment.     

Modeling of aluminum-silicon irregular eutectic growth by cellular automaton model

Due to the extensive application of Al-Si aloys in the automotive and aerospace industries as structural components, an understanding of their microstructural formation, such as dendrite and (Al+Si) eutectic, is of great importance to control the desirable microstructure, so as to modify the performance of castings. Since previous major themes of microstructural simulation are dendrite and regular eutectic growth, few efforts have been paid to simulate the irregular eutectic growth. Therefore, a multiphase celular automaton (CA) model is developed and applied to simulate the time-dependent Al-Si irregular eutectic growth. Prior to model establishment, related experiments were carried out to investigate the inlfuence of cooling rate and Sr modiifcation on the growth of eutectic Si. This CA model incorporates several aspects, including growth algorithms and nucleation criterion, to achieve the competitive and cooperative growth mechanism for nonfaceted-faceted Al-Si irregular eutectic. The growth kinetics considers thermal undercooling, constitutional undercooling, and curvature undercooling, as wel as the anisotropic characteristic of eutectic Si growth. The capturing rule takes into account the effects of modiifcation on the silicon growth behaviors. The simulated results indicate that for unmodiifed aloy, the higher eutectic undercooling results in the higher eutectic growth velocity, and a more reifned eutectic microstructure as wel as narrower eutectic lamelar spacing. For modiifed aloy, the eutectic silicon tends to be obvious ifbrous morphology and the morphology of eutectic Si is determined by both chemical modiifer and cooling rate. The predicted microstructure of Al-7Si aloy under different solidiifcation conditions shows that this proposed model can successfuly reproduce both dendrite and eutectic microstructures.     

Microstructural characteristics of in situ Mg2Si/ Al-Si composite by low superheat pouring

To control the morphology and size of the primary and eutectic Mg2Si phases in in situ Mg2Si/Al-Si composite and achieve a feasible and reliable technique to produce appropriate feedstock for the thixo-casting and rheo-casting of this type of material, three AI-Si matrix composites reinforced by 5wt.%, 9wt.% and 17wt.% Mg2Si with hypoeutectic, eutectic and hypereutectic compositions were prepared by the low superheat pouring （LSP） process. The effects of the pouring temperature （superheat） on the morphology and size distribution of primary phases （primary e-AI and Mg2Si）, binary （a-AI ＋ Mg2Si） eutectic cell and eutectic Mg2Si were investigated. The experimental results show that low pouring temperature （superheat） not only refines the grain structure of the primary e-AI and binary （e-AI ＋ Mg2Si） eutectic cell in three composites and promotes the formation of more non- dendritic structural semi-solid metal （SSM） slurry of these phases; but also refines the primary and eutectic Mg2Si phases, which seems to be attributed to the creation of an ideal condition for the nucleation and the acquisition of a high survival of nuclei caused by the LSP process.     

Effect of SiC particle addition on microstructure of Mg2Si/Al composite

In the present study, by adding SiC particles into Al-Si-Mg melt, Mg2Si and SiC particles hybrid reinforced Al matrix composites were fabricated through the Mg2Si in situ synthesis in melt combined with the SiC ex situ stir casting. The as-cast microstructure containing primary Mg2Si and SiC particles that distribute homogenously in Al matrix was successfully achieved. The effects of SiC particle addition on the microstructure of Mg2Si/Al composites were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and XRD. The results show that, with increasing the fraction of the SiC particles from 5wt.% to 10wt.%, the morphologies of the primary Mg2Si particulates in the prepared samples remain polygonal, but the size of the primary phase decreases slightly. However, when the SiC particle addition reaches 15wt.%, the morphologies of the primary Mg2Si particulates change partially from polygonal to quadrangular with a decrease in size from 50 μm to 30 μm. The size of primary Al dendrites decreases with increasing fraction of the SiC particles from 0wt.% to 15wt.%. The morphology of the eutectic Mg2Si phase changes from a fi ber-form to a short fi ber-form and/or a dot-like shape with increasing fraction of the SiC particles. Furthermore, no signifi cant change in dendrite arm spacing(DAS) was observed in the presence of SiC particles.     

Effect of A1P master alloy on grain refinement of primary silicon in eutectic Al-Si alloys

To obtain the finer primary silicon crystals, the proprietary Al-P master alloy was adopted to modify the eutectic Al-Si alloys and the most suitable modification process was made in the experiments. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) analysis indicate that the Al-P modifier has more advantages over Cu-P and Fe-P modifier in easily addition, no elemental alteration and less undercooling of primary silicon's solidification, which suggests the Al-P master alloy is an effective modifier of eutectic Al-Si alloys.     

Effect of cooling and aging on microstructure and mechanical properties of Sn－9Zn solder

The microstructure and tensile properties of Sn-9Zn solder under different cooling and aging condition were studied.During solidification, the distribution of Zn-rich phases and grain size in the microstructure of Sn-9Zn solder were decided by the cooling rate.The Zn-rich phase in Sn-9Zn solder under furnace cooling, air cooling and water cooling media was separately existed as coarsen dendritic and needle like shape, fine needle like shape and very fine rod-like shape, respectively.After aging, the coarsen dendritic was broken and the coarsen needle like Zn-rich phase was partly changed into fine distribution of Zn-rich phase for Sn-9Zn solder with furnace cooling, and the rod-like Zn phase in the Sn-9Zn solder under water cooling was changed to conglomerated Zn with needle shape.During tensile testing on Sn-9Zn solder, tensile strength and ductility reached the best with water cooling, but decreased with aging effect.Meanwhile, the ductility of solder with air cooling and the strength of solder with furnace cooling increased with aging.The fracture mode was ductile and was independent of cooling media and aging effect.The size and depth of dimples decreased from water, furnace to air cooling.After aging, number and size of dimples increased on the solder with furnace cooling and air cooling.The change on the size of dimples for the Sn-9Zn solder under different cooling condition and with aging effect was accordance to the tensile properties.     

旋转交变磁场和静磁场对Al-18%Si合金变质处理的影响

分别研究了旋转磁场和静磁场对过共晶Al-18％Si合金变质处理的影响。结果表明：变质处理后．不施加磁场的条件下，块状初晶Si偏聚在试样边缘处，试样中心处为共晶Si；施加旋转交变磁场的条件下，粗大的板条状初晶Si偏聚在试样边缘处，试样中心处为共晶Si；施加静磁场的条件下，在试样整个横断面上初晶Si都是细小的块状，且大小和分布均匀。     

电磁场对Al-18%Si合金凝固组织的影响

研究了在Al-18%Si过共晶铝合金凝固过程的不同温度施加不同的磁场,对合金凝固组织的影响。结果表明:随着施加直流磁场温度的降低,初生Si变得越来越长,共晶组织也变得越来越细密;随着施加交流磁场温度的降低,初生Si变得越来越粗大,共晶组织无明显变化。     

静磁场对铝硅合金Na变质处理的影响

分别对亚共晶Al-6Si合金和共晶Al-12．6 Si合金进行Na变质处理，发现对于亚共晶Al-6 Si合金，重熔使N。变质失效，而施加静磁场条件下，重熔没有使Na变质失效。对于共晶Al-12．6 Si合金，同样在变质剂反应温度保温20min，施加静磁场的条件下，共晶硅细化，并呈现一定程度的粒状化，其变质效果明显优于不施加静磁场的情况。延长保温时间至40 min，不施加静磁场时出现了变质衰退现象。但在施加静磁场条件下，变质衰退现象相对较轻，即静磁场具有延长变质有效时间的作用。分析认为这是静磁场抑制对流作用的结果。     

Study of Melt Thermal-Rate Treatment and Low-Temperature Pouring on Al-15%Si Alloy

Under the condition of melt thermal-rate treatment (MTRT) and low-temperature pouring (LTP), the tensile properties of Al-15%Si alloy are improved, the average size of primary Si is refined to about 20 μm from about 50 μm, and eutectic silicon can be well modified. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation are 201 MPa and 3.5%, and these values increase by 12% and 25%, respectively, compared with that obtained by conventional casting technique. The Al-15%Si alloy modified with Sr and RE additions was also studied for comparison purposes. The tensile properties of the Al-15%Si alloy treated with MTRT + LTP are superior to those modified with Sr or RE addition individually. The eutectic growth temperature difference between modified and unmodified melts was used to indicate the modification level. The modification effect of MTRT + LTP on Al-15%Si alloy is better than that modified with Sr or RE addition.     

The effects of Sc on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hypo-eutectic Al−Si alloys

The eutectic Si microstructure in Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy was changed from large flakes to fine lamellar when the Sc amount in the alloy reached 0.2 wt.%. 0.8wt.%Sc was optimal in terms of attaining the best modification effect. Study on the distribution of the modifiers and measurement of the surface tension of Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy melt with added Sr, Na, and Sc modifiers, respectively, reveals that Sc modifies eutectic Si by a decrease of surface tension, while Sr and Na modify eutectic Si mainly by an impurity-induced twinning mechanism. Al-8.5wt.%Si-0.4wt.%Sc alloy displayed approximately 50 and 70% increases in tensile strength and elongation, respectively, over Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy in the cast state. It also presented approximately 65 and 70% increases in tensile strength and elongation, respectively, over Al-8.5wt.%Si alloy at a ppt heat-treated state at 200°C for 3 h.     

Al-20％Si中间合金对Al-Si合金共晶Si变质行为的影响

研究了Al-20％Si中间合金对铸造Al-Si合金显微组织的影响.结果表明:向Al-Si合金熔体中加入1％的Al-20％Si中间合金,Al-7％Si合金中的共晶Si由粗大的板片状变为细密的纤维状或点状,变质效果较好,而对共晶Al- 12％Si合金的变质效果较弱;浇注温度对合金显微组织影响较大,适当降低浇注温度,有利于铸件组织的细化;变质温度越低越有利于颗粒状Si相成为形核核心,抑制枝晶组织的形成长大;在变质温度为650℃时,Al-20％Si中间合金对Al-7％Si合金变质有效时间是3h左右.     

Sr对Mg-4%Si合金中Mg2Si的变质作用

研究Sr对过共晶Mg-4%Si（质量分数）合金中Mg2Si相的变质作用与机理。Mg-4%Si合金中存在多面体形初生Mg2Si相与汉字状共晶Mg2Si相。添加Al-10%Sr可以明显细化初生Mg2Si相,同时可以将共晶Mg2Si相由汉字状变质为多面体状或者纤维状。对初生Mg2Si相的细化作用主要是由凝固过程中含Sr颗粒的异质形核作用引起的,而对共晶Mg2Si相的变质作用是由在凝固过程中熔体中的Sr原子在Mg2Si晶体生长表面富集,从而改变了其生长优势所致的。     

Bi对Al-18%Si合金微观组织与力学性能的影响

研究不同的Bi含量对过共晶Al-18%Si合金微观组织与力学性能的影响.试验表明,Al-18%Si-x%Bi(x=1,2,3,4,5)合金中,大部分Bi在基体中以小颗粒状弥散均匀分布,局部出现Bi的聚集;同时,Bi的加入对合金中的共晶硅起到一定的细化作用;随着Bi含量的增加,共晶硅组织由粗大针片状变成短杆状,当Bi含量达到3%时,共晶硅转变为均匀分布于基体的蠕点状,当Bi含量为4%或5%时,共晶硅没有进一步的细化.另外,力学性能和摩擦试验研究发现:Al-18%Si-3%Bi合金的抗拉强度由Al-18%Si合金的168 MPa提高为189 MPa,摩擦系数由0.4372降为0.3879,磨损量仅为不含Bi的20%.     

电磁搅拌与变质复合作用对Al-20Si合金初生硅相的影响

使用电磁搅拌、变质处理及其复合工艺分别成功制备了过共晶Al-20Si半固态浆料，研究了电磁搅拌和变质的复合作用对过共晶Al-20Si合金中初生Si长大和形貌的影响。研究结果表明：复合作用可以获得比单种变质处理和电磁搅拌的过共晶Al-20Si合金更加细小、更加圆整的初生Si组织。复合作用获得的初生硅比单一处理尺寸平均减小25．19％，圆整度平均提高8．40％。而且共晶Si组织也得到球化。复合作用细化组织的机理为：变质后施加旋转磁场，促进了变质剂的扩散，更多的初生Si与共晶Si组织相互打碎，深化了变质和电磁搅拌效果，细化显微组织。     

复合变质对Al-20%Si合金耐磨性能的影响

在不同P、RE添加量下对P-RE复合变质和未变质的过共晶铝硅合金的耐磨性进行了研究。结果表明:P-RE复合变质明显提高了合金的耐磨性,当加入0.08%P和0.6%RE时,合金的耐磨性达到最佳,磨损失重量从未变质的5.2mg降低到4.225mg,减少了19%。磨损主要为磨粒磨损,磨粒来源是硅相的破碎剥落。合金耐磨性能的改善与复合变质引起的共晶硅和初晶硅颗粒的细化和合金强度、塑性的提高有关。