Mechanical Properties of High Strength Al-Mg-Si Alloy during Solidification

Abstract

Mechanical properties of high strength Al-Mg-Si alloy during solidification have been investigated. Tensile strength and ductility have been measured by using an electromagnetic induction heating tensile machine. The relation between solid fraction and temperature was calculated by the Gulliver-Scheil model applied with the thermodynamic data-base Thermo-Calc for multi-component system, and its validity was confirmed, comparing with the experiment. Zero Strength Temperature (ZST) and Zero Ductility Temperature (ZDT) were evaluated and correlated with the corresponding solid fraction. Furthermore, the capability of the high temperature tensile test to apply to the break-out of direct chill (DC) casting was examined, comparing the breaking section of the tensile test sample with that of DC billet. Main conclusions are as follows: (1) ZST and ZDT were 893 and 883 K at which the corresponding solid fraction were 0.69 and 0.77, respectively. (2) Breaking sections of the tensile testing sample and DC billet had a similar rupture structure where intergranular fracture was observed. Consequently, it was considered that breaking elongation and breaking strength that were obtained by the present tensile test can be used as one of the criteria of Direct-Chill casting crack formation. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.47.2918]