Outstanding Tensile Ductility in High Iron-Containing Al-Si-Cu Alloys

Abstract

Cast Al(5.5 to 6.3 wt pct)Si-(3.1 to 3.7 wt pct)Cu alloys containing 0.6 and 1.2 wt pct Fe were processed by spray forming, rotary swaging, and homogenization/solution heat treatment, which led to a tensile ductility of 16 pct. Such outstanding ductility is ascribed to the microstructure formed: globular silicon particles, refined iron-rich intermetallics, and a supersaturated solid solution of Cu in the α-Al matrix that promoted dynamic strain aging and homogenization of the deformation process.