Effect of Erbium Addition on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminium Alloy

Abstract:

The effect of rare earth metal erbium (Er) modification on the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminium alloys (A380) were investigated using Optical Microscope (OM), Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) attached with Electron Dispersive Scanning (EDS), Vicker’s hardness test and Ultimate Tensile Test (UTS). The results show that the addition of Er reduces the size of the silicon particle and improve mechanical properties of the aluminium alloy. In addition, by adding 0.1 wt. % of Er, the mean area (μm²) and aspect ratio value decreased. The coarse plate like existed in the unmodified alloy transformed into fine particle and short rod. The mechanical properties were investigated by using tensile test and Vicker’s hardness test. The ultimate tensile strength test shows that the tensile and the elongation increased 1.32 % and 9.1 % with 0.1 wt. % Er content of the aluminium alloys, respectively. The hardness improved from the addition of 0.1% Er aluminium A380 alloy.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 796)
• Pages: 62-66
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.796.62
• Online since: March 2019
• Authors: Rosli Ahmad*, N.A. Wahab, S. Hasan, Z. Harun, M.M. Rahman, N.R. Shahizan
• Keywords: Erbium, Hardness, Magnesium Alloys, Microstructure

References

[1] Tantiwaitayaphan, T., Pandee, P., & Limmaneevichitr, C. (2017). Modification of Eutectic Si in Hypoeutectic Al-Si Alloys with Erbium Addition. In Key Engineering Materials (Vol. 718, pp.139-142).

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.718.139

[2] Qiu, H., Yan, H., & Hu, Z. (2013). Effect of samarium (Sm) addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Al–7Si–0.7 Mg alloys. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 567, 77-81.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.03.050

[3] Cardinale, A. M., Macciò, D., Luciano, G., Canepa, E., & Traverso, P. (2017). Thermal and corrosion behavior of as cast AlSi alloys with rare earth elements. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 695, 2180-2189.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.11.066

[4] Valdez, B., Kiyota, S., Stoytcheva, M., Zlatev, R., & Bastidas, J. M. (2014). Cerium-based conversion coatings to improve the corrosion resistance of aluminium alloy 6061-T6. Corrosion Science, 87, 141-149.

DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2014.06.023

[5] Hu, X., Jiang, F., Ai, F., & Yan, H. (2012). Effects of rare earth Er additions on microstructure development and mechanical properties of die-cast ADC12 aluminum alloy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 538, 21-27.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2012.05.089

[6] Li, Y. M., & Li, R. D. (2001). Effect of the casting process variables on microporosity and mechanical properties in an investment cast aluminium alloy. Science and Technology of advanced Materials, 2(1), 277-280.

DOI: 10.1016/s1468-6996(01)00069-9

[7] Pandee, P., Patakham, U., & Limmaneevichitr, C. (2017). Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Al-7Si-0.3 Mg alloys with erbium additions. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 728, 844-853.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.09.054

[8] Rana, R. S., Purohit, R., & Das, S. (2012). Reviews on the influences of alloying elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum alloys and aluminum alloy composites. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2(6), 1-7.

[9] Wen, S. P., Xing, Z. B., Huang, H., Li, B. L., Wang, W., & Nie, Z. R. (2009). The effect of erbium on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Mn–Zr alloy. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 516(1-2), 42-49.

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2009.02.045

[10] Xu, C., Xiao, W., Hanada, S., Yamagata, H., & Ma, C. (2015). The effect of scandium addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–Si–Mg alloy: A multi-refinement modifier. Materials Characterization, 110, 160-169.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2015.10.030

[11] Mahmoud, M. G., Samuel, A. M., Doty, H. W., Valtierra, S., & Samuel, F. H. (2017). Effect of Rare Earth Metals, Sr, and Ti Addition on the Microstructural Characterization of A413. 1 Alloy. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, (2017).

DOI: 10.1155/2017/4712946

[12] Jia, K., Yu, W. B., Yao, J. M., Zhang, S., & Wu, H. (2017). Al–9.00% Si–0.25% Mg alloys modified by ytterbium. Rare Metals, 36(2), 95-100.

DOI: 10.1007/s12598-014-0378-0