Studies on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy with minor additions of copper and magnesium

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) addition on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of A356 alloy were investigated. Results indicate that, the minor additions of Cu in the range of 0.1–0.5% improves the mechanical properties. This is due to the partial refinement of α-Al dendrites and solid solution strengthening and precipitation hardening. Also, addition of Mg (0.3–0.7%) results in improvements in strength and hardness at the expense of ductility. This improvement is probably due to the conversion of unmodified acicular silicon (Si) to lamellar, partially rounded and even a fibrous structure.