Effect of Zr Addition on the Mechanical Behavior, Ductility and Wear Resistance of Aluminum Grain Refined by Titanium

Abstract:

Aluminum and its alloys are the second most commonly used metal for a variety of engineering applications. They solidify in columnar structure with large grain size which normally affects their mechanical behavior and surface quality. It is now becoming customary in aluminum foundry to grain refine their structure by adding either titanium or titanium + boron to their melt before solidification. In this paper, the effect of addition of Ti on the mechanical properties, ductility and wear resistance of commercially pure aluminum is investigated. Titanium was added at a level of 0.15 % wt. This ratio corresponds to the peritictic limit on the Al-Ti phase diagram and is normally used for grain refining of aluminum. It was found that addition of Ti at this level resulted in grain refinement of aluminum structure whereas addition of Zr alone resulted in grain coarsening of Al structure while it resulted in grain refinement when it is added in the presence of Ti. Regarding the effect of Zr on the wear resistance of aluminum it was found that at small loads and speeds addition of Ti or Zr or both together resulted in deterioration of its wear resistance whereas at higher loads and speeds resulted in pronounced improvement of its wear resistance.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 442)
• Pages: 15-25
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.442.15
• Online since: June 2010
• Authors: A.I.O. Zaid, S.M.A. Al-Qawabah
• Keywords: Aluminum (Al), Ductility, Grain Refinement, Mechanical Behavior, Titanium, Wear Resistance, Zirconium

References

[1] D. William Callister: Materials Science and Engineering an Introduction, edited by John Wiley 7 th edition(2007).

[2] G. H. Jones, J. Person : Factors Affecting the Grain Refinement of Aluminum Using Titanium and Boron Additives, Met. Trans. B, pp.223-234, (1976).

DOI: 10.1007/bf02654921

[3] A. Cibula: J. Institute of Metals. Vol., 80, pp.1-15, (1951-1952).

[4] A. A. Abdel Hamid: On the Mechanism of the Grain Refinement of Aluminum by Small Addition of Ti and B, The Second Arab Aluminum Conference ARBAL , 85, Egypt, Oct, (1985).

[5] A.A. Abdel Hamid: Effect of other Elements on the Gain Refinement of Al by Ti or Ti and B, part II , Effect of Refractory Metals, V, Mo, Zr and Ta, Z. Metallkd, V80 PP. 643-646 (1989).

DOI: 10.1515/ijmr-1989-800907

[6] M. Johnson: Influence of Zr on the Grain Refinement of Al, .Z. Metallkd, 85, pp.786-789, (1994).

[7] G.P. Jones, J., Pearson: Factors Affecting the Grain Refinement of Aluminum Using Titanium and Boron Additives, met. Trans. B, pp.223-234, (1976).

DOI: 10.1007/bf02654921

[8] A. A. Abdel Hamid, A.I.O. Zaid,: Poisoning . of Grain Refinements Some Aluminum Alloys, Current Advances in Mechanical Design and Production, MDP-6, PP 323-331, (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/b978-008043711-8/50034-9

[9] A. I. O. Zaid, A. A. Abdel-hamid, : Poisoning of Grain Refinement of Some Aluminu Alloys, Current Advances in Mechanical Design and Production, 7th , Cairo Intern. Conference, Cairo, pp.331-338, (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/b978-008043711-8/50034-9

[10] Arjuna, A. Rao, Murty B.S. and Chakraborty M.: Influence of Chromium and Impurities on the Grain Refining Behavior of Aluminum, Metallurgical and Materials transactions A 27A, pp.791-800( 1996).

DOI: 10.1007/bf02648967

[11] J. Halling: Principles of Tribology, edited by Macmillan press Ltd,U. K (1979).

[12] Zhuxuan, L.: Effect of Rare Earth Metals on Zinc-Aluminum Alloys, V2, pp.26-29 (1989).

[13] Archard, J. F., (1953): Contact and rubbing of flat surfaces, Journal of Applied Physics 24, 981-988.

DOI: 10.1063/1.1721448

[14] A. I. O. Zaid, (2001): Proc. 7 th International Symposium on Advanced Material, Pakistan.

[15] A. I. O. Zaid, M. Hussein: Effect of Molybdenum on the Mechanical Behavior and Machinabilty of Aluminum, Proc. Advances on the Production and Processing of Aluminum, APPA-2001, Manama, Bahrain, (2001).

[16] A. I. O. Zaid, M. A. Al-Banna : Effect of Zirconium on the Fatigue Life of Aluminum, PEDD-6, Proc. International Conference on Production Engineering Design and Development, Egypt. (2002).