Combined effect of strontium modifier and antimony refiner on texture and growth mode of eutectic phase in an Al-11Si-2Cu-0.8Zn-0.6Fe cast alloy

Abstract

Results of electron back-scattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the orientation of aluminium in the eutectic phase is different from the surrounding aluminium dendrites and that twin spacing of eutectic silicon increased significantly due to the interaction between strontium and antimony. In addition, the formation of ternary Mg2Sb2Sr intermetallic compound that precedes the eutectic reaction was proposed to be responsible for interaction.