Abstract
Using recycled aluminium cast alloys is profitable in many aspects. Requiring only 5% of the energy to produce secondary metal as compared to primary metal and generates only 4% of the CO2 emissions, the recycling of aluminium is therefore beneficial of both environmental and economical point of view. AlSi9Cu3 is a very frequently employed die-casting alloy. It is used in almost all fields of pressure die casting, especially in the fabrication various motor mounts, pistons, cylinder heads, heat exchangers, air conditioners or gearings. Al-Si-Cu alloys usually contain Cu and sometimes Mg as the main alloying elements, together with various impurities such as Fe, Mn or Cr. Presence of the Fe impurity enables the crystallization of brittles needles Al5FeSi during solidification, even thought the Fe content is extremely low in a melt, and its presence severely lowers the dynamic fracture toughness of the alloy. Alloying elements such are Mn, Cr, Mo and Be have beenused to change the morphology of the Al5 FeSi needles and Al(FeMnMg)Si skeleton (or "Chinese script") phases.The present study is a part of larger research project, which was conducted to investigate and to provide a better understanding of the solution annealing on the morphology of Fe-rich intermetallic phases in cast Al-Si-Cu alloys. The Fe-rich changes of typical specimens under different solution heat treatment condition were examined using an optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that optimal solution treatment causes increasing of mechanical properties, the change of Si-morphology and reduction iron rich phases.
Highlights
Al-Si alloys are most universal materials, comprising 85% to 90% of the aluminium cast parts produced for the automotive industry [1, 2].The application of Al-Si alloy castings in many mechanical components, especially for cars and rail vehicles, has gradually increased in the last years, thanks to the great potential of these materials as replacements for ferrous alloys
The increase in recycled metal becoming available is a positive trend, as secondary metal produced from recycled metal requires only about 2.8 kWh/kg of metal produced while primary aluminium production requires about 45 kWh/kg of metal produced
Recycled AlSi9Cu3 cast alloy with chemical composition given in table 1 was used as an experimental material
Summary
Al-Si alloys are most universal materials, comprising 85% to 90% of the aluminium cast parts produced for the automotive industry (e.g. various motor mounts, engine parts, cylinder heads, pistons, valve retainer, compressor parts, etc.) [1, 2]. The increase in recycled metal becoming available is a positive trend, as secondary metal produced from recycled metal requires only about 2.8 kWh/kg of metal produced while primary aluminium production requires about 45 kWh/kg of metal produced. The microstructure of Al-Si-Cu cast alloy is composed of a certain amount of Fe, Mn and Mg that are present either accidentally, or they are added deliberately to provide special material properties. These elements partly go into solid solution in the matrix and partly form intermetallic particles during solidification. 95 COMMUNICATIONS 4 / 2 0 1 0 G ing of the influence of Fe on the structure and mechanical properties in recycled (secondary) AlSi9Cu3 cast alloy
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