Effect of Pulsed Magnetic Field on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Eutectic Al-Si Alloy

Pulsed magnetic field (PMF) processing has been employed for refining the microstructure of eutectic (Al-12.4Si) Al-Si alloy in the current study. The effect of PMF on microstructure and mechanical properties of eutectic Al-Si alloy was studied. The results show that the morphology of primary α-Al was refined from coarse columnar dendrites to fine equiaxed dendrites by PMF treatment. Fine short rod-like or rounded particle-like eutectic silicon was formed during solidification of eutectic Al-Si alloy treated by PMF. PMF treatment reduced the size of eutectic silicon from 49 to 2.3 μm in length, and the width from 3.1 to 0.6 μm. The aspect ratio of eutectic silicon was also reduced by PMF treatment from slightly less than 16 to slightly less than 4. The ultimate tensile strength and elongation of eutectic Al-Si alloy with PMF treatment at room temperature were about 201 MPa and 8.8 pct, respectively, which were increased by 47 and 73 pct, respectively, compared with the eutectic Al-Si alloy without PMF treatment.