Abstract
The microstructure and mechanical properties of stainless-steel AISI 304 wire mesh–reinforced AlSi9Cu-matrix composite specimens obtained by gravity casting were investigated. Optical and scanning electron microscope analyses were carried out on samples in both as-cast and solution heat treated conditions. The obtained results showed the absence of intermetallic phases at the insert/Al-matrix interface but even a significant fraction of lack-of-filling defects as well as lack-of-bonding areas that weekend the interface itself. The solution heat treatment, on the other hand, induced the precipitation of a thick and brittle intermetallic layer in the areas where a metallurgical bonding formed during casting. Moreover, the silicon particle spheroidization, improved the ductility of the matrix. The resulting microstructure allowed to obtain a slight improvement of elongation at failure of the compound casting compared to that of the aluminum alloy. Finally, basing on the obtained results, improvements are suggested that take into account both the preconditioning of the reinforcement surface and its geometry.
Highlights
T oday we are living in the era of advanced materials
The potential of Cu coating to inhibiting the intermetallic layer during stainless steel 308/aluminum alloy A319 compound casting production was explored by Khoonsari et al [26]
It was found a little decrease of the secondary dendrite arms spacing (SDAS) value of the aluminum matrix with the steel insert (22.10±1.89 m) compared to that of the aluminum matrix without the reinforcement (25.71±1.85 m)
Summary
T oday we are living in the era of advanced materials. All materials families have reached high levels of performances. Optimal heat treatment process parameters were found by Jiang et al [30] who improved the shear strength of the aluminum/steel bimetal by 39%, compared to that measured in the as-cast conditions, by a solution heat treatment at 500 °C for 2 hours This was mainly attributed to the obtained morphology and size of the intermetallic compound τ6(Al4.5FeSi) that showed a not excessive growth and absence of crack defects. Starting from the results of Huang et al [37], the present work is aimed at studying metallurgical and static mechanical properties of a stainless-steel wire mesh–reinforced Al-matrix composite samples obtained by gravity casting that compared to TRC allows less geometrical restrictions. The effect of a solution heat treatment at 500 °C for 10 h was investigated, as well
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