Effect of Fe Content on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of the Heat-Treated Squeeze Cast Al-5.0Cu-0.6Mn Alloy

Abstract:

The microstructures and mechanical properties of T5 heat-treated Al - 5.0 wt % Cu - 0.6 wt % Mn alloys with different Fe content prepared by squeeze casting were studied by tensile test, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). The results showed that the dominate Fe-rich intermetallics are α (CuFe) with a few Al₃(FeMn),Al₆(FeMn), and α-Fe in the alloys depending on different Fe content. With the increasing Fe content continually, the ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the alloys decreased gradually. This is attributed to the increasing amount of Fe-rich intermetallics, the decrease of precipitation particles in α (Al) matrix and the increase of α (Al) dendrite size. The elongation level of 13.7% was still obtained in the squeeze cast alloy even when the Fe content was as high as 1.5%.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 817)
• Pages: 82-89
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.817.82
• Online since: April 2015
• Authors: Bo Lin, Zhao Hui Lou, Jian Lei Fan, Cheng Kun Zheng, Wei Wen Zhang*
• Keywords: Al-Cu Alloys, Fe Content, Mechanical Properties, Microstructures, Squeeze Casting

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