Abstract
Al-Si alloys which are widely used in engineering applications due to their outstanding properties can be modified for more enhancements in their properties. Current work investigated the ability of these alloys to be modified by casting them through the addition of nanoparticles. So, Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNT) and titanium carbide ceramic particles (TIC) with size of (20 nm) were added with different amounts started from (0.5 up to 3%) weight to cast alloy A356 that was considered to be the base metal matrix, then stirred with different speeds of (270, 800, 1500, 2150) rpm at 520 °C for one minute. The results showed change in microstructure’ shape of the casted alloys from the dendritic to spherical grains with increasing stirring speed. Also, EDX analysis confirmed the existence of CNT and TIC additions over inter-dendritic locations related to the affected area. However, the enhancement in the mechanical properties for both types of castings was gained at a weight of 2.5% and a stirring speed of 1500 rpm.
Highlights
Al-Si alloys are characterized by their multifunctional capabilities like high castability, abrasion resistance, and lightweight, strong and stiff
Gruzleski found that both (Na) and (Sr) addition could refine the eutectic Si in the same unmodified alloy, it was noticed that this refinement was not effective in case of achieving this study by adding P, Na, and Sr at the same time, this is related to phosphors’ chemical properties itself, as it is described as an incompatible element with the (Sr) and (Na) elements, leading to formation either (Sr) or Na phosphides once adding (Sr) or (Na) to (P) pre-refined alloys
The equipment used for microstructure examination was (OLYMPUS DP12), which was already provided by advanced camera system with high resolution, in order to observe dispersion’s manner for (CNT) and (TIC) nanoparticle on the microstructure behavior of the new matrix of cast A356 alloy
Summary
Al-Si alloys are characterized by their multifunctional capabilities like high castability, abrasion resistance, and lightweight, strong and stiff. Lots of studies were made before to develop these alloys and strengthen their mechanical properties by adding Al2O3 and SiC, the ceramic micro-sized particles Few of these alloy’s products were marketed; despite no improvement in casting modification was recognized, Haizhi, 2003. 2010, revealed same results on a study involved the mechanical behavior of the A356 alloy as a function of dendritic structures, size, and morphologies of the eutectic Si particles. They attributed their findings to the formation of coarse primary Si particles which could harm the mechanical properties of the alloy especially the ductility, showing some irregular shapes, during solidification under normal casting conditions. This work aimed to understand the relationship between casting routes’ parameters and improvement of production cast A356 alloys reinforced by Nano ceramic material additions via changing stirring speed, kind of Nano ceramic material additions and their weight percent in the cast A356 alloys
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