Effect of carbon as an alloying element on aluminium alloy

Abstract

Carbon was added to aluminium, using metal carbides; such as manganese carbide or high carbon ferromanganese. Microstructures, macrostructures and mechanical properties were examined. The results obtained are summarized as follows:(1) Carbon is easily alloyed by this process even in air.(2) In the Al-C-Mn system, carbon is non-existent as either simple aluminium carbide or manganese carbide, however it possibly exists as complex carbide.(3) Al3 Ti phase in the Al-Ti system and in the Al-Ti-Mn system disappears by the addition of carbon and a new phase is assumed, which appears to be that of Ti C compound.(4) The Be phase in the Al-Be system and in the Al-Be-Mn system disappears with the addition of carbon and a new phase is assumed which is believed to be complex carbide.(5) In the Al-B system and in the Al-B-Mn system, a new phase also appears by the addition of carbon.(6) The grain size of lautal becomes coarser by independent additions of carbon or boron. When carbon and titanium are added simultaneously, the carbon has a tendency of making the grain size coarser, which had becom fine by the addition of titanium. When the titanium and Boron are added simul taneously and the quantity of boron is greater than the titanium, its grain size becomes coarser.(7) The mechanical properties of chill cast lautal do not change by independent addition of carbon or by simul taneous addition of titanium and carbon.