Microstructural Control of Al-Sn Alloy with Addition of Cu and Si

Abstract

The effect of various alloying elements and melt treatment on the microstructural control of AlSn metallic bearing alloy was investigated. The thickness of tin film crystallized around primary aluminum decreased with the addition of 5% Cu in Al-Sn alloy, with tin particles being reduced in size by intervening the Ostwald ripening. With the addition of Si in Al-10%Sn alloy, the tin particles were crystallized with eutectic silicon, resulting in uniform distribution of tin particles. With the addition of Cu and Si in Al-Sn alloy, both the tensile strength and yield strength increased, with the increasing rate of yield strength being less than that of tensile strength. Although the Al-10%Sn-7%Si alloy has similar tensile strength compared with Al-10%Sn-5%Cu, the former showed superior abrasion resistance, resulting from preventing the tin particles from movement to the abrasion surface. (Received November 30, 2009)