Al-Si Alloys Research Articles

Rapid hydrogen generation from Al-Si alloy and recovery of the byproducts

The metal hydrolysis reaction is a convenient and user-friendly strategy for obtaining high-purity hydrogen on-demand. However, removal of the oxide and rapid corrosion of the metal are critical for hydrogen utilization in fuel cell. In this work, commercial Al-Si alloy, which is widely used in metal casting, are used as a raw material to generate high-purity hydrogen. Our results indicate that hydrogen evolution and Al corrosion are influenced by NaOH concentration, elevated temperature from exothermic reaction of Al or Si with OH–, decreased particle size of Al and the Al/Si micro-galvanic cell. And the maximum hydrogen generation rate is 116.4 mL (0.4 g)−1 min−1 for Al-10Si. This reaction consumes OH– ions from NaOH following addition of the first two batches, and then OH– ions derived from Al(OH)−4 or Al(OH)3.The hydrogen generated is transferred to a fuel cell; a stable current of ca. 1 A and voltage of about 0.25 V are obtained for Al-10Si during continuous hydrogen input. The by-product of pure Al(OH)3 and Si can be recovered separately. This investigation of Al-Si alloys as hydrogen generation materials may provide guidance for the exploration of other Si-based materials.

Influence of Cooling Rate on Primary Silicon Size in Hypereutectic Al–Si Alloy Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Herein, the effects of cooling rate on primary silicon (Si) phases in laser powder bed fusion (PBF‐LB/M) processed hypereutectic Al–Si alloy are investigated. These alloys are particularly in demand for automotive and electronic applications, thanks to their excellent wear and thermal properties. Nevertheless, when processed by conventional methods like casting with comparatively lower cooling rates, the coarse primary Si phases are responsible for increasing brittleness and inducing crack propagation. The refinement of the primary silicon phases is aimed to be achieved through the PBF‐LB/M process, which offers a high cooling rate. The primary Si phases are observed under three different thermal substrate plate conditions—untempered, with cooling and heating, and additionally with varying volume energy density. Furthermore, the impact of primary Si size on the hardness of the fabricated samples is evaluated. The findings show that a faster cooling rate has a notable effect on refining the primary Si size. Then, hardness is directly affected by the primary Si size, with larger Si resulting in decreased hardness.

Si segregation deters prenucleation at the interfaces between liquid-aluminum and TiB2 substrates, the origin of ‘Si poisoning’

The mechanism of ‘Si poisoning’ of Al-Ti-B based grain-refiners in Al-Si alloys has been a topic of intensive study for over half a century. We here investigate prenucleation of Al at the Si segregated interfaces between liquid Al and TiB2{0001} substrates using ab initio techniques. Our study reveals that chemical affinity between Ti and Si atoms empowers Si segregation at the Al(l)/substrate interface during solidification. The Si interfacial segregation curbs atomic ordering in the liquid Al adjacent to the substrate. Consequently, prenucleation of Al atoms at the Al(l)/{0001}TiB2 interface is deteriorated and thus, the subsequent nucleation process adversely affected, which causes the so-called ‘Si poisoning’ effect during the practice of grain refinement via inoculation with addition of TiB2 particles in Al-Si alloys.

The Exposure Height of Silicon Particle with Round Edges Effect on the Tribological Property of Al-Si Alloy Cylinder Liner

In order to improve the wear resistance of Al-Si alloy cylinder liners, surface treatment is usually used. The Al-Si alloy cylinder liner samples were prepared by mechanical grinding and laser finishing. The mechanical grinding samples were carried out by the independent design and development of a grinding machine. The laser finishing samples were laser-heated by a CO2 continuous transverse-flow laser. Both of the two surface treatments could provide the surfaces of protruding silicon particles with round edges to improve the wear resistance. However, in the exposure height of silicon particles with round edges, the study was lacking. The exposure height of silicon particles is important to the tribological properties of the Al-Si alloy cylinder liner, and should be analyzed in detail. The wear tests were completed by a contraposition reciprocating wear test rig under lubrication. It was found that when the silicon particles were exposed on the surface of the Al-Si alloy cylinder liner sample by 1.2 μm, the mechanical grinding samples and laser finishing samples all exhibited minimum friction coefficients and weight losses. This paper confirms that a suitable exposure height of silicon particles would reduce the probability of adhesion wear and abrasive wear of Al-Si alloy cylinder liners and increase the lubrication. It presents an excellent tribological property. However, when the exposure height of silicon particles is too high, the silicon particle is easily prone to plastic deformation or even falls off during the friction process due to the high stress and larger plastic contact index.

Refinement of Primary Si Phase in Hypereutectic Al–Si Alloy by Electrically Assisted Solidification with P Addition

Refinement of Primary Si Phase in Hypereutectic Al–Si Alloy by Electrically Assisted Solidification with P Addition

In-situ synthesis and microstructural evolution of a SiC reinforced Al-50Si composite exhibiting exceptional thermal properties

Incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into Al-Si alloy to prepare in-situ SiC/Al-Si composites enhances thermal conductivity (TC) and reduces the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). However, challenges include CNTs aggregation and uneven SiC distribution. This study uses fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition (FBCVD) to achieve uniform CNTs coverage on Al-50Si powder. Subsequent powder hot extrusion and heat treatment above the eutectic temperature enable a gradual reaction between CNTs and Al/Si atoms, resulting in uniformly dispersed SiC within the SiC/Al-50Si composite. The formation mechanism of in-situ SiC particles and their impact on the microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties of the composite are further investigated. The formation process involves a two-step chemical reaction: lamellar Al4C3 phases transform into lamellar eutectic SiC + Al phases, which then transition into polyhedral SiC particles through epitaxial growth. This in-situ formation of SiC particles also impedes Si growth during heat treatment, refining Si particles and enhancing the composite’s properties. The resulting in-situ SiC/Al-50Si composite exhibits excellent thermal and mechanical properties, including a high TC of ∼162 Wm-1K−1, a low CTE of ∼ 8.7 × 10-6/K, and a good bending strength of approximately 253 MPa at room temperature.

Research on accelerated thermal fatigue testing and life prediction of Al-Si alloy pistons under start-stop cycles

As one of the most critical components in the combustion chamber of diesel engines, pistons operate under high temperature and pressure conditions for extended periods, which increases the likelihood of failures such as thermal fatigue. This paper first utilizes finite element simulation to obtain the temperature and stress field distribution of an Al-Si alloy piston under actual engine conditions. The results indicate that the throat area of the piston is the most susceptible to fatigue failure. Based on this, accelerated thermal fatigue tests were conducted to study the influence of various experimental factors on piston life, as well as to analyze the weight of each factor. Results from macroscopic and microscopic analyses of cracks using a scanning electron microscope show that fatigue cracks originate at the interface between the aluminum matrix and the detached hard particles. The cracking at the piston throat exhibits clear characteristics of ductile fracture, which is the result of cumulative fatigue damage. Therefore, from the perspective of continuum damage mechanics, it is considered to characterize the equivalent stress using the average loading rate during the loading phase and the maximum axial temperature gradient, establishing an experimental life prediction model for Al-Si alloy pistons.

Thermal conductivity of binary Al alloys with different alloying elements

This work investigates the physical properties of several binary Al-Si/Ni/Fe/Cu/Mg alloys with varying alloying element contents and microstructures. The findings indicate that as the content of alloying elements increases, the number of secondary phases in binary Al alloys rises, and these phases become coarser. In hypereutectic compositions, primary phases in Al-Ni and Al-Fe alloys take on a needle-like morphology with high aspect ratios, forming a dendritic network. Regarding properties, in the hypoeutectic region, both thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of binary alloys initially decrease sharply, followed by a more gradual decline with the addition of alloying elements. This trend occurs because thermal conductivity is mainly influenced by supersaturated solid solutions. In hypereutectic Al-Ni and Al-Fe alloys, the presence of large, needle-like primary phases significantly hinder the heat transfer, resulting in a more apparent reduction in both thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Among the five binary alloys, Al-Ni and Al-Fe alloys, which have lower solute concentrations of alloying elements in the Al matrix, exhibit the highest thermal and electrical conductivity. Furthermore, with increasing alloying element contents, the phonon thermal conductivity of Al-Si alloy increases more markedly compared to other alloys. The study will offer a fundamental understanding for the development of advanced alloys.

The Influence of Iron Content on the Porosity of AlSi9 Alloy Intended for Alfining Piston Ring Inserts.

Due to its tendency to increase the power of engines, improving their reliability and operational efficiency, the compression ring in combustion engine pistons is embedded in a cast iron insert, which is subjected to the process of "alfining". This involves covering the insert with an Al-Si alloy, which increases the iron content. Research has shown that the β-Al5FeSi phases crystallizing in the area of the insert-piston connection are the main cause of an unstable connection between the silumin casting of the piston and the ring insert. Their unfavourable lamellar morphology and large dimensions are the main causes of weakening in the connection between the insert and the piston, resulting in an unacceptable number of defective products. It has also been found that up to approx. 0.59 wt.% Fe, the pore volume fraction is very small (up to 3%), and there is no correlation. However, after exceeding this value, both the volume fraction of the β-Al5FeSi phase and the number of pores increase monotonically to values of approximately 18% and 14%, respectively, and the correlation between the examined features is statistically significant. These results were compared with known theories of the influence of iron on the porosity of Al-Si alloys, showing that the precipitates of the β-Al5FeSi phase are more important in the porosity fraction than the two-layer oxide films called "bifilms". This research was carried out and verified under industrial conditions in one of the largest piston foundries (Federal-Mogul Gorzyce sp. z o.o., F-MG) on a separate line intended for alfining ring inserts intended for combustion pistons.

Grain refiner fabricated by spark plasma sintering for hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy cast and its refining ability

Grain refiner fabricated by spark plasma sintering for hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy cast and its refining ability

Effect of friction stir processing on grain refinement and superplastic properties of binary Al-8 wt.% Si to Al-30 wt.% Si alloys

ABSTRACT As-cast binary Al–Si alloys containing ∼8, 12, 20, and 30 wt.% Si, representing the hypoeutectic, eutectic (12 wt.% Si), and hypereutectic compositions, were subjected to severe plastic deformation by friction stir processing (FSP) for grain refinement to 2.3–2.7 μm by dynamic recrystallization. Tensile tests conducted by differential strain rate test technique over the strain rates of 10−4 – 10−2 s−1 and test temperatures in the range of ∼840–530 K led to strain rate sensitivity index (m) varying from ∼0.04 to 0.40 depending on temperature, strain rate, and alloy composition. The constant initial strain rate tests conducted at 10−4 s−1 and 840 K exhibited a maximum elongation of 250% in the hypereutectic Al–20Si alloy, but the same increased linearly with m irrespective of alloy composition. Generally, with increasing Si content, the activation energy for deformation increased from 104.7 ± 14.4 kJ/mol for eutectic Al–12Si to 310.4 ± 32.3 kJ/mol for hypereutectic Al–30Si, which increased further to 572 ± 148 kJ/mol over the higher temperature range of 840–800 K. Analysis of observed deformation and microstructure behaviour supports the occurrence of superplasticity, whereby the accommodation of grain boundary sliding by grain boundary migration led to enhanced grain growth or else the local high-stress concentration at the particle-matrix interface led to cavity formation. There was no evidence of dynamic recrystallization during high-temperature tensile deformation but the flow softening observed is ascribed to the occurrence of concurrent cavitation.

Investigation of self-diffusion and specific heat capacity of eutectic al-si systems using molecular dynamics simulations with ADP

Aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) alloys are of significant interest in various engineering applications due to their favorable mechanical properties and low density. Understanding the thermodynamic and transport properties of these alloys is essential for optimizing their performance in practical applications. In this study, an angular dependent potential (ADP) for Al-Si systems is employed to describe the atomic interactions and dynamics of an Al-Si alloy system. A set of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to explore the diffusion behavior of the Al-Si alloy at different temperatures, with a specific focus on the eutectic composition of the Al-Si system. The mean squared displacement (MSD) method is applied to calculate its diffusion coefficients, enabling a detailed analysis of the system’s atomic mobility and transport characteristics. Furthermore, the specific heat capacity of the Al-Si system is determined through energy fluctuation analysis, providing insights into the system’s thermodynamic behavior. The obtained diffusion coefficients play a vital role in predicting the kinetics of the eutectic solidification of Al-Si alloys, while the specific heat capacity will facilitate the understanding of the thermal behavior and the energy changes associated with the eutectic reaction in such alloys.

Review of Wear and Mechanical Characteristics of Al-Si Alloy Matrix Composites Reinforced with Natural Minerals

Al-Si alloys are vital in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent ductility, and superior corrosion resistance. These properties, along with good thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and enhanced wear resistance due to silicon, make them ideal for lightweight, high-performance components like engine parts exposed to harsh conditions and thermal cycling. In recent years, the development of aluminium metal matrix composites using Al-Si alloys as the base material has gathered significant attention. These composites are engineered by integrating various reinforcing particles into the aluminium matrix, which results in remarkable improvements in the wear resistance, hardness, and overall mechanical performance of the material. The stir casting process, a well-established and cost-effective method, is frequently employed to ensure a uniform distribution of these reinforcing particles within the matrix. This review delves into the influence of different types of reinforcing particles on the properties of Al-Si alloy-based AMCs. The incorporation of these reinforcements has been shown to significantly enhance wear resistance, reduce friction, and improve the overall strength and toughness of the composites, making them ideal candidates for high-performance applications in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Moreover, this review highlights the challenges associated with the fabrication of these composites, such as achieving a homogeneous particle distribution and minimizing porosity. It also discusses the latest advancements in processing techniques aimed at overcoming these challenges. Additionally, this review addresses the potential environmental and economic benefits of using natural reinforcements, which not only reduce material costs but also contribute to sustainable manufacturing practices.

Effects of Strontium Modification on Corrosion Resistance of Al-Si Alloys in Various Corrosive Environments.

This study investigates the impact of strontium (Sr) additions on the corrosion resistance of an LM6 (A413) aluminium alloy. By incorporating varying concentrations of Sr (0.01 wt.% and 0.05 wt.%), the morphological and corrosion behaviours of the alloy were analysed under different corrosive environments, including sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and sodium chloride solutions. The results demonstrate that Sr modifications significantly enhance the alloy's corrosion resistance, with the most substantial improvement observed at 0.05 wt.% Sr. The analysis revealed that the weight loss of the alloy in sulphuric acid decreased by 2.5% with 0.05 wt.% Sr after 10 days of immersion, due to the formation of a stable passive oxide layer. In sodium hydroxide, however, the weight loss was reduced by 5% with 0.05 wt.% Sr after 10 days, indicating aggressive uniform corrosion. In the 3.5% sodium chloride solution, the corrosion rates remain relatively low, and the 0.05 wt.% Sr alloy showed a decrease in corrosion product formation over time, suggesting enhanced resistance. Detailed surface analyses, including 3D profiling and morphology assessments, revealed that Sr additions refine the eutectic silicon phase, transforming it from a coarse to a more desirable fibrous or lamellar structure, thus improving the alloy's overall performance. The innovative findings underscore the potential of Sr as an effective microstructural modifier for enhancing the durability and longevity of Al-Si alloys in corrosive environments.

Drimia maritima as a New Green Inhibitor for Al-Si Alloy, SAE Steel and Pure Al Samples in 0.5 M NaCl Solution: Polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Analyses

The corrosion inhibition effects of Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn sin. Urginea maritima (L.) Backer on three different materials, i.e., as-cast Al-7 wt.% Si alloy, SAE 1020 low carbon steel, and commercially pure Al samples, into a stagnant and naturally aerated 0.5 M NaCl solution are evaluated. For this purpose, both the potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with an equivalent circuit are utilized. It is found that inhibition effect increases up to certain minor Drimia maritima content. Adsorption isotherms (e.g., Langmuir and Temkin) indicate that all three examined materials comprise physical adsorption mechanisms. Al-Si alloys attained inhibition efficiencies of about 96% at 25 °C with 1250 ppm of Drimia maritima and ~43% with 625 ppm at 45 °C. On the other hand, the cp. Al and SAE 1020 samples attain ~89% and 68% with 1250 ppm and 500 ppm at 25 °C, respectively. This clearly indicates that the dosage of Drimia maritima green inhibitor into NaCl solution possesses certain susceptibility for each distinctive material examined. Impedance parameters obtained by using CNLS (complex non-linear least squares simulations) are correlated and discussed.

Enhanced Combustion Properties of Al-Si Eutectic Alloy in Energetic Mixtures

This study investigates the feasibility of using an Al-Si eutectic alloy as a reactive fuel in energetic mixtures. Al-Si eutectic alloy powders were obtained from secondary resources and ground to a particle size of less than 100 μm. We examined these powders’ burning characteristics and thermal properties compared to pure Al powder. Results showed that the burning rate of energetic mixtures containing Al-Si eutectic alloys was 1.5 to 2.0 mm/s higher than those with pure Al. Additionally, the activation energy of pure PTFE was reduced from 81.29 kJ/mol to 61.75 kJ/mol when the Al-Si alloy was added. The formation of oxides, carbides, and fluorides in the combustion products of Al-Si-based mixtures significantly influenced their thermodynamics.

Enhancing high-temperature strength in Al-Si alloys: The critical role of vanadium

Al-Si alloys are widely utilized in casting applications across various industries due to their favorable properties. This study addresses the imperative for improving the high-temperature strength of these alloys to expand their applicability. The stability of the microstructure of such alloys at elevated temperatures is closely associated with the diffusivity of their constituent elements. We explored the role of vanadium (V), which is known for its low diffusivity within the aluminum matrix, in enhancing the high-temperature strength of the Al-7Si alloy. The research evaluated mechanical properties, thermal stability, and fractographic characteristics of alloys. Microstructural analysis was conducted using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), with a focus on identifying the strengthening mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that the incorporation of 0.5 wt% V significantly enhances the mechanical properties of alloys at both ambient and elevated temperatures. This improvement is primarily due to the formation of Al10V intermetallic particles, which hinder dislocation movement and increase dislocation density during deformation. Notably, the presence of twinning within Al10V contributes to a more uniform stress distribution, and it alleviates the typically detrimental effects on ductility observed with conventional brittle intermetallics. The joint addition of 0.2 wt% Ti and 0.5 wt% V further intensifies these benefits by increasing the number density of Al10V intermetallic particles. Our study highlights the considerable promise of V in improving the performance of aluminum alloys for high-temperature applications.

Synergetic Effect of La and Sb on the Eutectic Silicon and Mechanical Properties in Multi-elements Hypoeutectic Al–Si Alloy

Synergetic Effect of La and Sb on the Eutectic Silicon and Mechanical Properties in Multi-elements Hypoeutectic Al–Si Alloy

Construction of Al–Si interatomic potential based on Bayesian active learning

Nanoscale simulations for optimizing the performance and processing of Al–Si alloys are currently facing two major obstacles: the scarcity of high-quality semi-empirical potentials tailored to complex alloy systems, and the prohibitively high computational cost associated with ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. In order to enhance simulation efficiency and accuracy of the Al–Si alloys’ microstructural evolution, this study employs a dynamic active learning technique, FLARE, to develop a non-parametric machine learning potential that combines the high accuracy of density functional theory (DFT) with the efficiency of classical molecular dynamics (MD). Without relying on extensive initial ab initio molecular dynamics data or existing databases, collection of the necessary data is progressively made during the active learning process, thereby constructing a potential capable of accurately simulating the structure and dynamics of high-temperature Al–Si alloys. By comparing with experimental measurements and ab initio molecular dynamics calculations, the high accuracy and computational efficiency of this potential is demonstrated in predicting energy, force, structure, and dynamic properties. The results provide novel theoretical insights for optimizing Al–Si alloy processing and underscore the usefulness of active learning methods in constructing high-accuracy potentials.

Al(Si)/Al2O3 and NiAl(Si)/Al2O3 co-continuous composites obtained by low temperature Reactive Metal Penetration of dense silica preforms.

Interpenetrating network Al(Si)/Al2O3 composites, obtained by a reactive metal penetration process, where pure aluminum metal reacts with a dense amorphous silica preform, are an interesting class of metal/ceramic composites, with two continuous networks of metal (Al-Si alloy) and ceramic (Al2O3). These composites have high stiffness and hardness, while retaining acceptable toughness and good thermal and electrical conductivity, and can be used in wear or thermal management applications. A second infiltration step with nickel allows to substitute the Al(Si) alloy with an intermetallic, obtaining an interpenetrating network NiAl(Si)/Al2O3 composite, with very high hardness and melting point. While in the standard process the temperature for obtaining the Al(Si)/Al2O3 composites is in the 1100-1200 °C range, in this paper we studied instead the 700-1000 °C temperature range and its effect on the microstructure of the final NiAl(Si)/Al2O3 composite. After the first infiltration step, the microstructure of Al(Si)/Al2O3 composites depends on both temperature and time of the treatment. At 700-800 °C and for reaction time of 1-2 hours, the grain size is completely sub-micrometric. When temperature and time of reaction increase, islands with a coarser microstructure, of micrometric size, form, reaching a fully micrometric coarser microstructure at 1100-1200 °C. The islands formation is due to the transformation from transition aluminas, formed at low temperature and low reaction time, to α-alumina, while at high temperature α-alumina forms directly. In a second step, the Al(Si) metal network was replaced with an intermetallic one, by contacting the composite with liquid nickel, that reacted with the Al(Si) alloy forming an Al-Ni-Si intermetallic. The temperature and duration of the first infiltration step strongly influences not only the microstructure of the Al(Si)/Al2O3 composite but also of the final NiAl(Si)/Al2O3 one, that is finer when the first step (reaction of aluminum with silica) occurs at lower temperature.