Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr Alloys: Effects of Time and Temperature on Two-Stage Solution Treatment and Ageing
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Experimental Procedures
Preparation of Materials
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Optimization of the Solid Solution Process
3.2. Optimization of the Ageing Process
3.3. Mechanical Properties
4. Conclusions
- (1)
- In the as-cast state, the alloy consists of an α-Al matrix, massive primary Si, needle-like eutectic Si, dark grey Chinese-script π-Al8FeMg3Si, light grey fishbone α-Al (Fe, Cr, Ni) Si, black skeletal Mg2Si, grey–white reticulated phase Q-Al5Cu2Mg8Si6, white needle-like phase δ-Al3CuNi, and white skeletal phase ε-Al3Ni phase.
- (2)
- With an increase in the temperature and time of the second step of SHT, a new white short rod-like Al9FeNi phase is formed in the alloy. Primary Si passivation is evident, and eutectic Si also fuses and spheroids. The second phase of the reticular skeleton gradually fused into short rods; however, the morphology of the π-Fe phase and α-Fe showed no significant change. According to Ra of the primary Si, aspect ratio of the eutectic Si, and microhardness test, the optimum SHT conditions were 500 °C for 2 h and 540 °C for 4 h.
- (3)
- Under the optimised solid-solution process at 500 °C for 2 h and 540 °C for 4 h, the ageing temperature and time were further optimised. The microhardness of the alloy initially increased. After reaching the maximum microhardness, the microhardness decreased with an increase in ageing time. The optimum ageing process was 180 °C for 4 h and the microhardness of the alloy reached a maximum value of 155.82 HV.
- (4)
- The tensile test results at different temperatures show that the mechanical properties of the alloy were significantly improved after T6 heat treatment. When the heat-treated alloy is stretched at room temperature, the Ni-rich, Q, and Mg2Si phases play a major role in strengthening. The Al3Ni and Al9FeNi phases inhibited cracking at 350 °C. As the temperature increased, the fracture mechanism changed from quasi-cleavage to the coexistence of quasi-cleavage and dimples. At the end, optimizing the high temperature properties of piston materials is an important area of scientific and technical research. Future work could attempt to add rare earth elements to the Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr alloy to further improve the elevated temperature mechanical properties of the alloy.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Si | Cu | Mg | Ni | Fe | Ti | Cr | Al | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alloy | 12.5 | 1.14 | 1.29 | 1.15 | 0.39 | 0.13 | 0.18 | Bal. |
Alloy | Heat Treatment | UTS at 350 °C/MPa |
---|---|---|
Al-12.5Si-5Cu-2.0Ni-0.84Mg-0.24Cr [21] | 480 °C × 3 h + 200 °C × 8 h | 77.20 |
Al-13.0Si-3.7Cu-3.2Ni-1.1Mg-0.5Cr [23] | 490 °C × 3 h + 200 °C × 8 h | 98.61 |
Al-13.1Si-1.08Cu-1.0Ni-1.05Mg [33] | 490 °C × 3 h + 200 °C × 8 h | 61.63 |
Al-12.5Si-1.14Cu-1.29Mg-1.15Ni-0.18Cr | 500 °C × 2 h + 540 °C × 4 h + 180 °C × 4 h | 98.70 |
Alloy Variations | Ra of | Aspect Ratio | Micro-Hardness | Tensile Properties at 25 °C | Tensile Properties at 350 °C | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Si | of Eutectic Si | UTS/ MPa | YS/ MPa | Elongation/% | UTS/ MPa | YS/ MPa | Elongation/% | ||
As cast | 4.3 | 3.73 | 85.93 | 198.59 | 147.62 | 0.78 | 83.12 | 65.30 | 9.05 |
T6 | 1.46 | 2.56 | 155.82 | 334.74 | 245.11 | 1.25 | 98.70 | 79.35 | 10.67 |
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Xiao, L.; Yu, H.; Qin, Y.; Liu, G.; Peng, Z.; Tu, X.; Su, H.; Xiao, Y.; Zhong, Q.; Wang, S.; et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr Alloys: Effects of Time and Temperature on Two-Stage Solution Treatment and Ageing. Materials 2023, 16, 2675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072675
Xiao L, Yu H, Qin Y, Liu G, Peng Z, Tu X, Su H, Xiao Y, Zhong Q, Wang S, et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr Alloys: Effects of Time and Temperature on Two-Stage Solution Treatment and Ageing. Materials. 2023; 16(7):2675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072675
Chicago/Turabian StyleXiao, Lairong, Huali Yu, Yiwei Qin, Guanqun Liu, Zhenwu Peng, Xiaoxuan Tu, Heng Su, Yuxiang Xiao, Qi Zhong, Sen Wang, and et al. 2023. "Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr Alloys: Effects of Time and Temperature on Two-Stage Solution Treatment and Ageing" Materials 16, no. 7: 2675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072675