Microstructure Evolution of Conventional and Semi-Solid Cast of A356 Aluminium Alloy with Addition of Inoculant

Abstract:

This paper investigated the effect of inoculant, Al-5Ti-1B in conventional and semi-solid casting A356 aluminium alloy. A356 aluminium alloy was melted at 850 oC and poured at 680 °C directly into the steel mould and on the inclined slope into steel mould. Inoculant was added in various percentages of 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 3 wt.% and 3.5 wt.% in A356 aluminium alloy melt. Microstructure and microhardness were characterized using optical microscope and Vicker’s microhardness tester. The addition of master alloy up 3.5 wt.% Al-5Ti-1B in conventional casting refined dendritic structure with average grain size of 33.41 μm. The microstructures of semi-solid A356 aluminium alloy with addition of Al-5Ti-1B consist of equiaxed structure of α-Al. Further addition of Al-5Ti-1B refined the globular structure of α-Al. The higher hardness was achieved for A356 alloy prepared using semi-solid with addition of 3.5 wt.% of Al-5Ti-1B.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 819)
• Pages: 25-30
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.819.25
• Online since: June 2015
• Authors: M.N. Laila Masrur, M. Syukron, Zuhailawati Hussain, Abu Seman Anasyida
• Keywords: Conventional Casting, Globular, Inoculant, Semi-Solid State

References

[1] F. Taghavi, A. Ghassemi, Study on the effects of the length and angle of inclined plate on the thixotropic microstructure of A356 aluminum alloy, Materials & Design 30 (2009) 1762-1767.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2008.07.022

[2] M. S. Salleh, M. Z. Omar, J. Syarif, M. N. Mohammed, An overview of semisolid processing of aluminium alloys, ISRN Materials Science, (2013) Article ID 679820.

DOI: 10.1155/2013/679820

[3] S. Nafisi, R. Ghomashchi, Combined grain refining and modification of conventional and rheo-cast A356 Al-Si alloy, Materials Characterization 57 (2006) 371-385.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2006.03.016

[4] D.G. Mallapur, K.R. Udupa, S.A. Kori, Influence of Ti, B and Sr on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET) 46 (2010) 1622 – 1627.

DOI: 10.1007/s10853-010-4977-3

[5] J. Wannasin, S. Thanabumrungkul, Development of a semi-solid metal processing technique for aluminium casting applications, Songklanakarin Journal Science and Technology 30 (2008) 215-220.

[6] H. Ghadimi, S. Hossein Nedjhad, B. Eghbali, Enhanced grain refinement of cast aluminum alloy by thermal and mechanical treatment of Al-5Ti-B master alloy, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 23 (2013) 1563-1569.

DOI: 10.1016/s1003-6326(13)62631-x

[7] M. Ishak, A. Amir, A. Hadi, Effect of solution treatment temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy, International Conference on Mechanical Engineering Research (2013).

[8] R. Canyook, S. Petsut, S. Wisutmethangoon, M.C. Flemings, J. Wannasin, Evolution of microstructure in semi-solid slurries of rheocast aluminum alloy, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20 (2011) 1649 -1655.

DOI: 10.1016/s1003-6326(09)60353-8

[9] Sjölander,E., Seifeddine,S., Artificial ageing of Al-Si-Cu-Mg casting alloys, Materials Science and Engineering A, (2011) 528: 7402-7409.

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2011.06.036

[10] Haghparast, M. Nourimotlagh, M. Alipour, Effect of the strain-induced melt activation (SIMA) process on the tensile properties of a new developed super high strength aluminium alloy modified by Al-5Ti-1B grain refiner, Materials Characterization 71 (2012).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2012.05.015