Abstract
In this paper, the effects of size, morphology and distribution of eutectic silicon on the thermal conductivity of Al-8Si alloy modified by Sr (0.04, 0.08, 0.12 wt.%) and Sb (0.1, 0.3, 0.5 wt.%) elements with T6 heat treatment were investigated. The results show that the modified fibrous eutectic silicon has a significant capability of improvement of thermal conductivity, while the amount of the modifier has a relatively weak effect on thermal conductivity. After T6 treatment, the fracture or spheroidization of the flake eutectic silicon and the disappearance of clustering phenomenon could raise thermal conductivity, but the coarsening of fibrous eutectic silicon is inconducive to thermal conductivity. Finally, the effect of eutectic silicon on electron transport is analyzed in detail, which could provide a reference for enhancing the thermal (or electrical) conductivity of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy through effective microstructure control.
Highlights
Most of aluminum alloy castings are aluminum–silicon alloy [1]
Because the radiators in base station mainly are fabricated by aluminum–silicon alloy, its thermal conductivity has been a significant issue [5], and the improvement of the thermal conductivity of Al-Si alloy is of theoretical significance for material science and practical value for communication station
The impurity elements in the melt reduce the electrical conductivity of the alloy, and the electrical conductivity can be increased after the boron treatment [7,8,9]
Summary
Most of aluminum alloy castings are aluminum–silicon alloy [1]. Al-Si alloy is widely applied in automobile, aviation, electrical and communication industries because of its good casting performance, low density, low cost, good electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties [2,3,4]. The impurity elements in the melt reduce the electrical conductivity of the alloy, and the electrical conductivity can be increased after the boron treatment [7,8,9]. The effect of different sizes and morphologies of eutectic silicon on thermal/electrical conductivity of the alloy needs to be investigated. Through combining T6 heat treatment, in addition, the size and shape of eutectic silicon of the alloy would be furtherly changed. The dependency of thermal/electrical conductivity on different sizes and morphologies of eutectic silicon of Al-8Si alloy would be investigated. It is aimed to get fine fibrous/flake shape eutectic silicon of Al-8Si alloy which is beneficial to its thermal/electrical conductivity
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