Pressure effect on the phase transformations and structure of an Al-12 at % Si alloy

Phase transformations of an Al-12 at % Si alloy have been studied by differential barothermal analysis at temperatures of up to 700°C in argon compressed to 100 MPa. Heating at a rate of 8°C/min under a pressure of 100 MPa has been shown to increase the temperature of the L → (Al) + Si eutectic transformation in the alloy by 4°C. After crystallization of the binary eutectic, the differential thermal analysis cooling curve showed an additional exothermic peak, corresponding to the decomposition of the aluminum-based solid solution (Al) at 547°C and precipitation of silicon particles in the nanometer range. A barothermal scanning cycle reduced numerical porosity characteristics of the alloy, except for the pore number density. The lattice parameter of silicon microparticles in the alloy approaches values in the literature, whereas that of nanoparticles is slightly greater. The lattice parameter of the aluminum remains unchanged during crystallization and cooling in compressed argon. The microhardness of the aluminum matrix of the alloy corresponds to that of pure aluminum.