Papers by Keyword: Strontium Modification

Abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different concentrations of magnesium (0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) on the modifying efficiency of Sr in aluminium alloy A356. Both sand casting and gravity die castings were taken for the same composition. Modifying efficiency was studied quantitatively by measuring the size and shape of Si eutectic particles by using ImageJ image analyser and giving a Modification Rating (MR), developed by American Foundrymen’s Society (AFS), for each microstructure ranging from 1 to 6, 1 being unmodified and 6 being completely modified very fine structures. Characterisation was done with optical microscope and SEM equipped with EDS and XRD. Mechanical testing involved hardness test in both as cast and standard T6 condition.

Abstract: The effect of Sr on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Al-20 wt% Si alloys were investigated. The results show that with increasing of the Sr content, the primary silicon firstly changes from polygonal block or large plate to small block, then to large polygonal block, and a large number of honeycomb-like on the primary silicon block. The eutectic silicon firstly changes into a fine start with a long needle-like fibrous or branched further to a short stubby dendrite or worm-like, continuously columnar dendrite α of quantity increase. In addition, with increasing the Sr content, the elongation of alloy increases, but there are ups and downs, the tensile strength changes little after the first sharp increases in hardness is parabola. When the Sr content is between 0.04 wt% and 0.06 wt%, the morphology and mechanical properties is the most ideal.

Abstract: A study of the effect of strontium on some solidification parameters, such as eutectic nucleation temperature, eutectic growth temperature, eutectic undercooling temperature and eutectic undercooling time, has been carried out using thermal analysis for a composite reinforced with 15 vol. % SiCP and, for comparison, for an A356 aluminum alloy. The composite is prepared by the melt stirring technique with a SiC particle size of 38 μm. Thermal analysis results show that the presence of SiCP in the unmodified A356 aluminum alloy increases the eutectic growth temperature (TE) and the eutectic nucleation temperature (TNucl); on the contrary, SiCP decreases the eutectic undercooling temperature (θ) and the eutectic undercooling time (tE). These phenomena suggest that SiC particles give favorable conditions for the growth of eutectic silicon. On the other hand, the modification with strontium of the composite material, although showing basically the same effect on the eutectic parameters as the one described for the A356 aluminum alloy, brings about certain differences due to the presence of the SiC particles. Microstructural analysis shows that the eutectic structures in the composite are coarser than those of the matrix alloy and they do not have the classic fibrous eutectic shape obtained in the matrix alloy. For the matrix alloy, when the Sr concentration increases beyond the quantity required to obtain a well-modified structure, the eutectic structure suffers a gradual coarsening or a reversion from fine fibrous silicon to coarser silicon; subsequently, when the Sr concentration is higher than 0.068%, Al2Si2Sr particles are produced. In the composite material there is also a gradual coarsening of the eutectic structure, although the appearance of Al2Si2Sr particles is just seen when the Sr concentration reaches 0.106%.