Application of novel heat treatments for aluminium high pressure die castings to industrially produced components

Abstract

High pressure die casting (HPDC) is widely used as a cost effective way to mass produce metal components that are required to have close dimensional tolerances and smooth surface finishes, accounting for ～50% of the aluminium castings produced worldwide. These components are not considered to be heat treatable by conventional means because the high temperatures involved with solution treatment cause surface blistering and dimensional instability. A new heat treatment procedure involving a truncated solution treatment at lower than conventional temperatures alleviates this problem and can significantly improve mechanical properties, in many cases, doubling the 0·2% proof strength after artificial (T6) aging. This may enable current HPDC parts to be redesigned to use less metal while still achieving the required performance. The cost of heat treatment can be easily offset by the reduction in metal content and productivity improvements which result in an overall lower cost of the part. The new process also creates opportunities to substitute for some other cast or wrought products with aluminium HPDC parts of lower weight and lower cost. Application of this heat treatment technology to a range of industrially produced HPDC components is discussed and the cost advantages are briefly considered.     

Effects of Pb and Cu additives on microstructure and wear corrosion resistance behaviour of PM Al–Si alloys

Abstract

The wear and wear corrosion resistance behaviour of Al–20Si–XPb–YCu (X=0–10 wt-%, Y=0–3 wt-%) alloys fabricated by a powder metallurgy (PM) technique and subsequent heat treatments were evaluated by a block on ring tribotest. The microstructure of all aluminium alloys was observed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The effects of applied potentials and environments including dry air and 3.5 wt-%NaCl aqueous solution were studied. The results of microstructure analysis indicated that Pb exhibited a bimodal distribution in the Pb containing alloys, and Cu particles become to form the intermetallic phase CuAl₂. Furthermore, the hardness rises significantly for both Pb and Cu containing alloys only after solid solution quenching treatment. The wear and corrosion results showed that the addition of both lead and copper would improve the wear resistance but lead to a higher corrosion rate whereas heat treatment had a beneficial effect of reducing the corrosion rate of most alloys with the exception of Al–Si alloy. Furthermore, by comparison of all alloys after heat treatment, the wear corrosion resistance of Al–Si alloy was inferior to the other alloys; consequent additions of Pb and Cu further improved its wear corrosion resistance. Moreover, at an anodic potential, the wear corrosion rate and current density of both Al–Si and Al–Si–Cu alloys containing particle Pb decrease significantly owing to a corrosion product layer composed of Al, O and Pb elements.     

Effect of thermal exposure on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al−Si−Cu−Ni−Mg alloy produced by different casting technologies

The effect of thermal exposure at 350 °C for 200 h on microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated for Al−Si−Cu−Ni−Mg alloy, which was produced by permanent mold casting (PMC) and high pressure die casting (HPDC). The SEM and IPP software were used to characterize the morphology of Si phase in the studied alloys. The results show that the thermal exposure provokes spheroidization and coarsening of eutectic Si particles. The ultimate tensile strength of the HPDC alloy after thermal exposure is higher than that of the PMC alloy at room temperature. However, the TEPMC and TEHPDC alloys have similar tensile strength around 67 MPa at 350 °C. Due to the coarsening of eutectic Si, the TEPMC alloy exhibits better creep resistance than the TEHPDC alloy under studied creep conditions. Therefore, the alloys with small size of eutectic Si are not suitably used at 350 °C.     

Effects of magnesium and copper additions on tensile properties of Al-Si-Cr die casting alloy under as-cast and T5 conditions

Aluminum high pressure die casting(HPDC) technology has evolved in the past decades, enabling stronger and larger one-piece casting with significant part consolidation. It also offers a higher design freedom for more mass-efficient thin-walled body structures. For body structures that require excellent ductility and fracture toughness to be joined with steel sheet via self-piercing riveting(for instance, shock towers and hinge pillars, etc.),a costly T7 heat treatment comprising a solution heat ...     

Role of decomposition of AlMgFeSi phase in mechanical properties and fracture behaviour of 357 alloys

Abstract

The π-AlFeMgSi iron intermetallic phase in Al–Si–Mg alloys is known for its detrimental effect on ductility and strength. An attempt was made to correlate the impact and tensile properties of heat treated Al–7Si–0·55Mg–0·1Fe alloy samples with the changes that occur in the microconstituents such as the eutectic Si and π phase with prolonged solution treatment. Impact and tensile tests showed that the first 20 h of solution treatment is more sensitive to the changes occurring in the Si particle morphology than that in the π phase. Decomposition of the π phase significantly reduces the impact properties after prolonged solution times. Fracture behaviour is controlled mainly by the eutectic silicon morphology. The π phase particles act as crack initiation sites and facilitate crack propagation in as cast and heat treated alloys. Quality index values show that optimum solution time for Sr modified alloys is 12 h. Impact properties are more sensitive to changes in the π phase during solution treatment than tensile properties.     

Microstructure and hot cracking susceptibility of high conductivity Al–Fe–Si alloys

Aluminium–silicon based casting alloys have been extensively utilised in various industrial applications, but their relatively low electrical and thermal conductivities make them unsuitable for high conductivity parts. In this research, Al–Fe–Si based high conductivity alloys containing limited silicon content were investigated. Al–0·5Fe–xSi alloys with silicon ranging from 0·5 to 2% showed significantly higher electrical conductivity than conventional Al–Si based alloys. The hot cracking susceptibility of Al–Fe–Si alloys became seriously high as the Si content increased up to 1·5%, then susceptibility rapidly reduced with the further increase in Si. The relationship between solidification characteristics and hot cracking susceptibility of Al–0·5Fe–xSi alloys was discussed based on the thermal and cooling curve analyses and microstructural observations.     

In situ observation of solidification phenomena in Al–Cu and Fe–Si–Al alloys

Abstract

Synchrotron radiation enables the observation of solidification in metallic alloys. In situ observations of solidification for Al–Cu alloys (5, 10 and 15 wt-%Cu) are reported. Nucleation and fragmentation of dendrite arms were often observed in the 15 and 10%Cu alloys when unidirectional solidification was performed from the planar interface. In contrast, nucleation and fragmentation were rarely observed in the 5%Cu alloys. The nucleation ahead of the solidifying front and the fragmentation in the mushy region strongly depended on alloy composition. This paper also presents in situ observation of solidification of Fe–10Si–0·5Al (at-%) alloys. The dendritic growth of δ-Fe was clearly observed using this technique. The development of X-ray imaging techniques enables the solidification of various conventional cast alloys such as Al, Ni and Fe alloys to be observed and will be increasingly used to investigate solidification phenomena.     

Dissolution of Al2Cu phase in non-modified and Sr modified 319 type alloys

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of solution heat treatment on dissolution of the Al₂Cu phase in non-modified and 150 ppm Sr modified 319 type alloys. Experimental and industrial 319 alloys containing different Mg levels (0, 0·3 and 0·6 wt-%) were used for this purpose. Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was used to monitor the distribution of Cu in the matrix and to measure the undissolved Al₂Cu phase. In as cast 319 alloys, copper segregates at the dendrite boundaries. The addition of Mg and Sr may cause this segregation to deteriorate. After heat treatment, the copper begins to distribute more evenly across the dendrite as well as in the matrix. The amount of Cu dissolved in the matrix increases with increasing solution time and temperatures, reaching a maximum for the 490°C/8 h solution heat treatment. The dissolution process of eutectic and block like Al₂Cu was also investigated.     

Oxidation of nickel base alloys strengthened by different hardening effects

Abstract

Three nickel base alloys strengthened by different hardening effects were investigated by thermogravimetry in air under isothermal conditions. The alloys investigated were γ′-Ni₃ (Al, Ti)-hardening alloy 80A (75Ni, 21Cr, 2·5Al, 1·7Ti, DIN No. 2·4952),solid solution hardened alloy C22 (59Ni, 21Cr, 13Mo, 3·5 Fe, 2·8W, DIN No. 2·4602) and a new high nitrogen containing and nitride hardening alloy N (61Ni, 27Cr, 10W, 1·4Ti, 0.2N). Tests were conducted in air between 900 and 1100° C for 48 h. Parabolic oxidationrates were determined and the formation of the oxide layer was investigated by optical microscopy and SEM. Oxidation data showed that the hardening mechanism has almost no influence on the oxidation kinetics. All of the alloys investigated formed chromia layers. After initial transient stateoxidation, the kinetics followed a parabolic law. Alloy 80A had the highest oxidation rate of the investigated alloys, which is attributed first to its lower chromium content and second to the formation of chromium carbides. At grain boundaries, internal oxidation, mainly of aluminium andtitanium, took place. The Al and Ti contents of alloy 80A were too low for the formation of a protective inner oxide layer of one of the two elements to take place. Alloy C22 showed the best resistance to oxidation since its chromium content of 21% is close to that for the minimum in the kineticsof oxide formation that has been found for binary Ni–Cr alloys. Additionally, there were no chromium rich precipitates to shift this chromium content to values that would result in higher oxidation rates. The nitride-containing alloy N contained a higher chromium content of 26%, whichled to a higher oxidation rate than that for alloy C22. A certain amount of inner oxidation took place, especially at coarse Cr₂N precipitates. Conclusions are presented about the optimised chemical composition of chromia laye-forming nickel base alloys for minimised oxidationrate.     

Wetting behaviour of Cu based active brazing alloys on siliconised graphite

Abstract

The effects of Al and silicon additions to Cu based brazing alloy and the surface free silicon on siliconised graphite substrate on the wetting behaviour of the siliconised graphite by Cu–Al–Si–Ti alloys were investigated using the sessile drop technique at 1100°C. The contact angles were measured and the interfacial reactions were analysed. It was shown that surface free Si on siliconised graphite had a great positive effect on the contact angle. Furthermore, interfacial reactions could be controlled by adjusting the contents of Si and Al in brazing alloys.     

含Si量对Mullite纤维/Al-Cu-Si复合材料及其基体合金时效行为的影响

用挤压铸造方法制备了Mullite/Al Cu Si复合材料。用硬度 (HB)测试仪、差示扫描量热仪 (DSC)和显微镜研究含Si量变化和Mullite纤维对Al Cu Si合金时效硬化行为的影响 ;元素Si、Mullite纤维以及二者同时存在对Al Cu Si合金时效析出序列的影响。结果表明 :Si和Mullite纤维明显抑制了Al Cu合金GP区的形成 ;随着含Si量增加 ,Al Cu Si合金的时效硬化过程加快 ;Mullite纤维对Al Cu和Al Cu Si合金的时效硬化过程都具有加速作用 ,同时提高了基体合金的时效硬度 ,但相对而言 ,Mullite纤维对无Si的Al Cu合金的时效硬化加速作用更为明显一些。     

Effect of Silicon on the Thixoformability of Al-Si-Cu Alloys

The thixoformability of new Al-Si-Cu alloys was evaluated and characterized by their microstructural and rheological behavior. Alloys Al1Si2.6Cu, Al2Si2.6Cu, Al4Si2.6Cu, and Al7Si2.6Cu were produced with the addition of Al5Ti1B grain refiner alloy. The materials were heat treated under two controlled conditions: holding times of 0, 30, 90, and 210 s and solid fraction of 45 and 60%. The evaluation of the microstructure and semisolid behavior was characterized by globule size, shape factor (SF), minimum stress to flow, maximum stress, and apparent viscosity. The heat treatment times promoted the globularization of solid phase particles to achieve better apparent viscosity results for the alloys treated for 210 s. Both 45 and 60% solid fraction showed no significant differences in terms of SF, but the alloys containing lower solid fraction showed better performance for apparent viscosity. Better working ranges for these new Al-Si-Cu alloys were determined reaching average strain of 0.5 MPa and apparent viscosity of 10⁵ Pa s.     

Evaluation of Young's modulus of high stiffness aluminium die cast alloys using nanoindentation technique

Abstract

A new correction method which is appropriate for the evaluation of Young's modulus of crystalline compounds has been examined and established to correct the size effect. Using a nanoindentation test and the established correction method, Young's moduli of primary Si phase, Al–(Fe,Mn)–Si and Al–Ni compound phases in the hypereutectic Al–Si die cast alloys were evaluated to be 182±9, 208±29 and 170±4 GPa respectively. The rule of mixtures for Young's modulus and the area fraction of each phase were applied to evaluate the Young's modulus of aluminium die cast alloys. The Young's modulus calculated by the rule of mixtures is in good agreement with the value obtained by a tensile test. The combination of the rule of mixtures and nanoindentation test is an effective approach to the precise evaluation of the Young's modulus of aluminium die cast alloys having complicated microstructures.     

Microstructure characteristics in non-modified and Sr modified Al–Si–Cu–Mg 319 type alloys

Abstract

This study was carried out on 319 alloys containing low and high levels of Mg, in the non-modified and Sr modified conditions (150 ppm Sr addition). Single step, two step and triple step heat treatments were applied to identify the optimum solution heat treatment to minimise incipient melting of the copper phases Al₂Cu and Al₅Mg₈Cu₂Si₆ in these alloys in relation to the alloy properties. In Mg free alloys, no incipient melting of Al₂ Cu was observed even in samples heat treated at 520°C. Addition of Sr leads to modification of Si particles but also to an increase in area per cent porosity and pore length, especially when the solution temperature reaches 520°C. Addition of Mg results in a decrease in the Si particle aspect ratio but an increase in particle size. Magnesium was also found to increase the possibility of incipient melting resulting from the formation of the insoluble Al₅Mg₈Cu₂Si₆ phase. To some degree, Sr decreases the effect that Mg has in increasing the area per cent porosity and pore length, while Mg impairs the effects that Sr has on modifying Si particles, even though the lowest Al–Si eutectic temperature is obtained for the 319 alloy containing both Mg and Sr.     

Microstructure and high temperature tensile properties of Al–Si–Cu–Mn–Fe alloys prepared by semi-solid thixoforming

The differences in the microstructure and elevated temperature tensile properties of gravity die cast, squeeze cast, and semi-solid thixoformed Al–Si–Cu–Mn–Fe alloys after thermal exposure at 300 °C were discussed. The results demonstrate that the elevated temperature tensile properties of semi-solid thixoformed alloys were significantly higher than those of gravity die cast and squeeze cast alloys, especially after thermal exposure for 100 h. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of semi-solid thixoformed alloys after thermal exposure at 300 °C for 0.5, 10 and 100 h were 181, 122 and 110 MPa, respectively. The UTS values of semi-solid thixoformed alloys were higher than those of heat resistant aluminum alloys used in commercial applications. The enhanced elevated temperature tensile properties of semi-solid thixoformed experimental alloys after thermal exposure can be attributed to the combined reinforcement of precipitation strengthening and grain boundary strengthening due to thermally stable intermetallic phases as well as suitable grain size.     

Characteristics of dynamically formed oxide films on molten aluminium

Abstract

The characteristics of oxide films formed within a short time of pouring were investigated using samples prepared via the oxide–metal–oxide sandwich (OMO) technique. Surfaces of the OMO sandwiches were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The thickness of the folds of oxide films was examined and compared with previously obtained values for Al–7Si–0··4Mg and Al–5Mg alloys. Results showed that the thicknesses of oxide films formed in pure aluminium and Al-7Si- 0.4Mg alloy are very close and in the range 100-500 nm.     

Microstructural evolution of direct chill cast Al-15.5Si-4Cu-1Mg-1Ni-0.5Cr alloy during solution treatment

Heat treatment has important influence on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Si alloys. The most common used heat treatment method for these alloys is solution treatment followed by age-hardening. This paper investigates the microstructural evolution of a direct chill (DC) cast Al-15.5Si-4Cu-1Mg-1Ni-0.5Cr alloy after solution treated at 500, 510, 520 and 530℃, respectively for different times. The major phases observed in the as-cast alloy are α-aluminum dendrite, primary Si particle, eutectic Si, Al7Cu4Ni, Al5Cu2Mg8Si6, Al15(Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu)4Si2 and Al2Cu. The Al2Cu phase dissolves completely after being solution treated for 2 h at 500℃, while the eutectic Si, Al5Cu2Mg8Si6 and Al15(Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu)4Si2 phases are insoluble. In addition, the Al7Cu4Ni phase is substituted by the Al3CuNi phase. The α-aluminum dendrite network disappears when the solution temperature is increased to 530℃. Incipient melting of the Al2Cu-rich eutectic mixture occurrs at 520℃, and melting of the Al5Cu2Mg8Si6 and Al3CuNi phases is observed at a solution temperature of 530℃. The void formation of the structure and deterioration of the mechanical properties are found in samples solution treated at 530℃.     

Effects of fluidised bed quenching on heat treating characteristics of cast Al–Si–Mg and Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys

Abstract

The quench sensitivity of Al–Si–Mg (D357 unmodified and Sr modified), and Al–Si–Mg–-Cu (354 and 319 Sr modified) cast alloys was investigated using a fluidised bed (FB). The average cooling rate of castings in the fluidised bed is lower than those quenched in water; the cooling rate first increases to a certain maximum and then decreases during quenching. The change in the cooling rate during quenching in water was more drastic, where the cooling rate varied from 0 to ?80 K s^?1 in less than 8 s, as compared with those quenched in FB, where the cooling rate varied from 0 to ?14 K s^?1 in 18 s. The FB quenching resulted in the formation of several metastable phases in Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys; in contrast, no such transformation was observed during water quenching. The T4 yield strength of the FB quenched alloys was greater than water quenched alloys owing to the formation of a greater volume fraction of metastable phases in the FB quenched alloys. The tensile properties of T6 treated alloys show that Al–Si–Mg alloys (both unmodified and Sr modified) are more quench sensitive than Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys. The high quench sensitivity of the Al–Si–Mg alloys is because GP zones are not formed, whereas GP zones are formed during quenching of the Al–Si–Mg–Cu alloys as predicted by time temperature transformation and continuous cooling transformation) diagrams.     

Prediction of porosity characteristics of aluminium castings based on X-ray CT measurements

Porosity is a main factor limiting the fatigue performance of aluminium castings. Using micro X-ray computed tomography, size and morphology characteristics of porosity distributions are analysed for material from a cast Al–8Si–3Cu–(Sr) crankcase as well as from cast Al–8Si–3Cu–(Sr), Al–7Si–0·5Cu–Mg–(Sr) and Al–7Si–0·5Cu–Mg–(Na) cylinder heads. Correlations are developed between the porosity volume percentage and mean and maximum pore sizes. Two characteristic size measures of the porosity distribution are identified: the volume weighted spherical mean diameter and the volume weighted mean envelope diameter. Both correlate linearly with the corresponding diameters of the largest pore. The pore morphology is described by a volume weighted mean sphericity. This mean sphericity and the local amount of porosity are used to predict the mean and maximum pore sizes of the porosity distributions. These correlations will find applications in integrated computational materials engineering.     

Development of high strength stainless steel brazed joints using rapidly solidified filler alloys

Abstract

Two types of rapidly solidified filler alloys of nominal composition Cu–40Mn–10Ni (C50) and Ni–7Cr–3·2B–4·5Si–3Fe (N82) were used for stainless steel (SS304) brazing joints. The C50 foil is crystalline in nature, whereas N82 foil shows amorphous structure. The SS304/C50/SS304 joint shows solid solution phases at interfacial area, with maximum bond strength of 500 MPa, which qualifies to 80% of base metal strength. Conversely, the SS304/N82/SS304 joint develops brittle Cr_xB_y intermetallic phases, which lowers bond strength to 330 MPa.