Correlation between solidification thermal variables, microstructure and mechanical strength of an Al-10wt%Si-2wt%Cu alloy

ABSTRACT

The imposition of a wide range of operational conditions in foundry and castings process generates, as a direct consequence, a diversity of solidification structures. The mechanical properties show to depend strongly on the structural morphology and chemical composition. A low carbon steel mold was used to promote a unidirectional heat flow during solidification and to obtain the arrangement of the microstructure. The aim of the present article is to investigate the effect of thermal solidification variables on the microstructure of the Al-10wt.%Si-2wt.%Cu alloy and its mechanical strength. Experimental results include primary dendrite arm spacings (EDP), tip growth rate (V_L), cooling rate (T_R) and tensile (LRT) and yield (LE) strength limits. A coarser dendritic structure tends to improve the tensile strength and the yield tensile strength in the studied alloy.

Keywords:
solidification; microstructure; primary dendrite arm spacings; mechanical properties; Al-10 wt%Si-2 wt%Cu alloy