Characteristics of α-dendritic and eutectic structures in Sr-treated Al—Si casting alloys

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the effect of alloy composition and solidification conditions on changes in the dendritic and eutectic structures in Al—Si alloys containing strontium. A series of experimental and industrial alloys viz., Al-7% Si, Al-12% Si, 319 and 356 were selected, to cover a variety of alloy freezing ranges. The techniques of thermal analysis, optical microscopy, and SEM/EDX and EPMA analyses were employed to obtain the results presented here. Depression in the eutectic Si temperature in Al-7% Si alloys occurs on addition of alloying elements such as Mg and Cu. Introduction of Sr to these alloys further depresses the eutectic temperature, with a corresponding increase in the volume fraction of the α-Al phase. The primary dendrite solidification pattern changes from parallel rows to a branched form, producing an equiaxed type of structure and hence shorter primary dendrite lengths. This is expected to enhance the interdendritic feedability. The lengths of the secondary dendrite arms are controlled by the rejection of solute atoms in front of the growing dendrites during solidification. The higher the alloying content in the alloy (i.e., 319), the smaller the dendrite cell size. The longer solidification time in the 319 alloy also appears to have a considerable influence on the amount of porosity formed in the alloy, in addition to that of Sr.