Microstructure and properties of AlSi7Mg alloy fabricated by selective laser melting

The AlSi7Mg alloy was fabricated by selective laser melting(SLM),and its microstructure and properties at different building directions after heat treatment were analyzed.Results show that the microstructure of SLM AlSi7Mg samples containes three zones:fine grain zone,coarse grain zone,and heat affected zone.The fine-grain regions locate inside the molten pool,and the grains are equiaxed.The coarse-grain regions locate in the overlap of molten pools.After T6 treatment,the microstructure at the molten pool boundary is still the network eutectic Si,but the network structure becomes discrete,and is composed of intermittent,chain-like eutectic Si particles.The yield strength at three directions(xy,45°,z direction)of the AlSi7Mg alloy samples fabricated by SLM is improved after T6 heat treatment.The fracture mechanism of the samples is a mixed ductile and brittle fracture before heat treatment and ductile fracture after heat treatment.

Effect of pouring height on the solidified microstructure of AlSi7Mg alloy

The effect of different pouring heights and evenly soaking process in the liquidus and solidus range on the solidified microstructure of AlSi7Mg alloy has been studied. The results show that if the pouring temperature is 630 or 650℃ and the pouring height is 40 mm, the microstructure of the solidified melt is not homogeneous and there are many rosette-like primary α-Al grains. But if the pouring height is increased to 400 mm, the solidified microstructure becomes more homogeneous and favorable to obtain spherical primary α-Al grains in the solidified melt. With further being evenly soaked in the liquidus and solidus range for some time, the temperature difference between the melt center and the melt periphery can be controlled within ±2℃ and the primary α-Al grains will evolve into more spherical grains. The theoretical analysis indicates that the higher pouring height promotes the melt flow motion and makes the temperature field in the melt more homogeneous and restrains the large rosette primary α-Al grains. This flow motion can also promote the ripening effect and the primary α-Al grains in the melt are gradually changed into spherical grains. It can be concluded from the experiments that pouring at an appropriate superheat and from a proper height is a good new method for preparing the semisolid slurry of AlSi7Mg alloy, its process control is easy and the preparation cost is lower.

Microstructures of an AlSi_7Mg alloy by near-liquidus casting

Semi-solid ingots of an A1SiTMg alloy were obtained using the method of near liquidus casting. Their microstructures exhibit the characteristics of free, equiaxed, and non-dendrite, which are required for semi-solid forming. The influences of casting temperature, heat preservation time, and cooling rate on the microstructure were also investigated. The results show that in the temperature region near liquidus the grain size becomes small with a decrease in casting temperature. Prolonging the heat preservation time makes grain crassitude at the same temperature. And increasing the cooling rate makes grain fine. The microstructure of the alloy cast with iron mould is freer than that with graphite mould.

Effect of Pouring Process on the Microstructures of Semi-Solid AlSi_7Mg Alloy

The effect of different pouring temperatures and different pouring heights, the distance between the mouth of the pouring ladle and the top of the mold, on the microstructure of AlSi7Mg alloy have been researched in the paper. When the pouring temperature is close to the liquidus temperature, the primary alpha -Al in 'the billets of AlSi7Mg alloy solidified into spherical and nodular fine grains distributed homogeneously. The optimum pouring temperature for semi-solid AlSi7Mg billet with spherical or nodular primary alpha -Al is 615 degreesC. At the same pouring temperature, the higher the pouring ladle, the more easily the spherical and nodular primary alpha -Al obtained in the semi-solid AlSi7Mg billet. When the pouring temperature is close to the liquidus temperature and the pouring ladle is relatively high, it is the great cooling rate, the flow of the molten allay caused by pouring and the large simultaneous solidification region induced by the near liquidus temperature, that promote the formation of spherical or nodular primary cr-Al.

Influence of process parameters and aging treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al Si8Mg3 alloy fabricated by selective laser melting

Many studies have investigated the selective laser melting(SLM)of AlSi10Mg and AlSi7Mg alloys,but there are still lack of researches focused on Al-Si-Mg alloys specifically tailored for SLM.In this work,a novel high Mg-content AlSi8Mg3 alloy was specifically designed for SLM.The results showed that this new alloy exhibited excellent SLM processability with a lowest porosity of 0.07%.Massive lattice distortion led to a high Vickers hardness in samples fabricated at a high laser power due to the precipitation of Mg_(2)Si nanoparticles from theα-Al matrix induced by high-intensity intrinsic heat treatment during SLM.The maximum microhardness and compressive yield strength of the alloy reached HV(211±4)and(526±12)MPa,respectively.After aging treatment at 150℃,the maximum microhardness and compressive yield strength of the samples were further improved to HV(221±4)and(577±5)MPa,respectively.These values are higher than those of most known aluminum alloys fabricated by SLM.This paper provides a new idea for optimizing the mechanical properties of Al-Si-Mg alloys fabricated using SLM.

Preparation of semisolid AlSi7Mg alloy slurry through weak traveling-wave electromagnetic stirring

The semisolid AlSi7Mg alloy slurry with large capacity was prepared by low superheat pouring and week traveling-wave electromagnetic stirring. The effects of electromagnetic stirring power and frequency on the shape and distribution of primary α-A1 grains in the AlSi7Mg alloy slurry were discussed. The experimental results show that the AlSi7Mg alloy slurry with fine and spherical primary α-A1 grains distributed homogeneously can be obtained. Under the condition of low superheat pouring and week traveling-wave electromagnetic stirring, when the pouring temperature is 630℃, raising the stirring power or frequency appropriately can gain a better shape of primary α-Al grains; but if the stirring power or frequency is increased to a certain value （1.72 kW or10 Hz）, the shape of primary α-A1 grains cannot be obviously improved and spherical primary α-Al grains distributed homogeneously can be still obtained.

New method for the preparation of semi-solid AlSi7Mg alloy slurry

The effects of pouring temperature and short electromagnetic stirring with low strength on the microstructures of AlSi7Mg alloy were investigated. The results show that if liquid AlSi7Mg alloy is poured at 630 or 650℃, many primary α-Al grains in the solidified melt are rosette-like, and only a small number of them are spherical. However, if liquid AlSi7Mg alloy is poured at a lower superheat and meanwhile is stirred by an electromagnetic field at a low power for a short time, then most primary α-Al grains in the solidified melt become spherical, and only a few are rosette-like. The theoretical analysis indicates that the strengthened melt flow motion induced by the short electromagnetic stirring makes the temperature field more homogeneous in the melt, which is poured at a lower superheat, and makes the primary α-Al grains deposit in a larger region at the same time, so this new solidification kinetic condition leads to the microstructure of spherical primary α-Al grains. The experiments also demonstrate that pouring at an appropriate superheat and stirring by an electromagnetic field at a low power for a short time is a good new method for preparing the semi-solid slurry or billet of AlSi7Mg alloy.

Effect of withdrawal rate on microstructure of a hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy by low superheat DC casting

To obtain the billet with homogeneous and spheroidized primary grains is the key step in the semi- solid forming process. Among the semi-solid billet preparation methods, the process of low-superheat direct chill （DC） casting is simpler and more effective. In this study, the billets of AISi7Mg alloy were prepared by low- superheat DC casting at various withdrawal rates. The effect of withdrawal rate on the surface quality of the billets was investigated, and the evolution mechanism of the microstructural morphology in the billets was analyzed. The results show that the periodic corrugations and a large quantity of fine shrinkage pits appear in the billet surface when the withdrawal rate is 100 mm.min-1, and the above defects in the billet surface can be eliminated completely when the withdrawal rate is above 150 mm.min-1. But when the withdrawal rate is too fast （250 mm.min-1）, the primary a grains, except the ones in the billet center, have not enough time for ripening due to the high silidification rate, and will solidify as the dendrite structure. When the withdrawal rate is between 150 - 200 mm.min-1, the dendritic growth of the primary a grains is effectively inhibited, and a billet of AISi7Mg alloy with a smooth surface and homogeneous, fine, non-dendritic grains can be obtained.

Electro-pulse modification and reheating process for production of thixotropic microstructure in AlSi_7Mg alloy

Electro-pulse modification(EPM) was used to change the dendritic structure of AlSi7Mg alloy to globular one.The effects of the modified temperature,electro-pulse frequency and time on the solidified structure were examined.The results show that these parameters play an important role in the solidified microstructures.That is to say,under the same modified temperature,the solidified microstructure will be improved greatly with the increase of electro-pulse frequency and time,but when they exceed to limit values,the solidified microstructure will become worse,resulting from the decrease of the ratio of nucleation.The experimental results indicate that the suitable modified temperature of AlSi7Mg alloy is 720 °C,and the appropriate electro-pulse frequency and time are 5 Hz and 40 s,respectively.Then the microstructures produced by suitable EPM process were reheated at temperatures between liquidus and solidus,the primary-Al grains ripen further and become more spherical,which is favorable to the semi-solid forming of AlSi7Mg alloy.

Evolution of globular microstructures during processing of aluminium slurries

Slurry processing experiments were performed with AlSi7Mg0.6 to identify the globularization mechanisms.The melt sample water quenched slightly above the liquidus point is predominantly dendritic while that cooled into the semi-solid temperature range internally via stirring the melt with a rotating cylindrical block of the alloy itself becomes fully globular.The globules are much smaller when internal cooling and stirring are employed longer to achieve higher solid fractions before casting.Coarse dendrite fragments of various sizes are revealed,in the case of stirring after an initial fraction of solid is first formed without the benefit of additional internal cooling.

Two-stage dynamic recrystallization and texture evolution in Al-7Mg alloy during hot torsion

Hot torsion tests were performed on the Al-7Mg alloy at the temperature ranging from 300 to 500℃ and strain rates between 0.05 and 5 s^(-1) to explore the progressive dynamic recrystallization(DRX)and texture behaviors.The DRX behavior of the alloy manifested two distinct stages:Stage 1 at strain of≤2 and Stage 2 at strains of≥2.In Stage 1,there was a slight increase in the DRXed grain fraction(X_(DRX))with predominance of discontinuous DRX(DDRX),followed by a modest change in X_(DRX) until the transition to Stage 2.Stage 2 was marked by an accelerated rate of DRX,culminating in a substantial final X_(DRX) of~0.9.Electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD)analysis on a sample in Stage 2 revealed that continuous DRX(CDRX)predominantly occurred within the(121)[001]grains,whereas the(111)[110]grains underwent a geometric DRX(GDRX)evolution without a noticeable sub-grain structure.Furthermore,a modified Avrami’s DRX kinetics model was utilized to predict the microstructural refinement in the Al-7Mg alloy during the DRX evolution.Although this kinetics model did not accurately capture the DDRX behavior in Stage 1,it effectively simulated the DRX rate in Stage 2.The texture index was employed to assess the evolution of the texture isotropy during hot-torsion test,demonstrating significant improvement(>75%)in texture randomness before the commencement of Stage 2.This initial texture evolution is attributed to the rotation of parent grains and the substructure evolution,rather than to an increase in X_(DRX).

Effects of La on Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of AlSi5Cu1Mg Alloy

The microstructures and corrosion behavior of AlSi5 CulMg alloy modified with different contents of La were investigated.Optical microscopy observations showed that the microstructures of AlSi5 Cu1 Mg-xLa(x = 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 wt%) alloy transformed from coarse cellular to fine cellular as the content of La increased from 0 to 0.9 wt%. The results of electrochemical measurement and immersion test in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution showed that the corrosion resistance of AlSi5 CulMg-xLa alloy strongly depended on its microstructures. The AlSi5 Cu1 Mg-0.6 La sample exhibited the highest corrosion resistance due to its fine cellular structure and the cathode phases coated by the La element. The covering film of La hindered the corrosion electron flowing between the cathode and the anode. As a result, the corrosion current density of the AlSi5 CulMg-0.6 La alloy was only about 40% that of the matrix alloy in the electrochemical measurement.

Microstructure and properties of Al–7Si–0.6Mg alloys with different Ti contents deposited by wire arc additive manufacturing

Numerous studies have addressed the advantages of wire arc additive manufacturing for manufacturing aluminum alloys. However, the role of Ti content in aluminum alloys has rarely been discussed. Herein, the effect of Ti content on the microstructure and properties of Al–7 Si–0.6 Mg alloys was studied. The alloys were deposited via wire arc additive manufacturing and were examined through optical microscopy(OM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and electronic universal testing. The results show that the increase of Ti content gradually promotes the increase of the secondary dendrite arm spacing and also has an increasing tendency to form pores defect in the as-deposited alloys. The change of titanium content also affects the difference between horizontal and vertical direction properties of the alloy. The alloy with a Ti content of 0.112 wt% exhibits the best comprehensive properties. There is no difference in its horizontal and vertical direction properties. The tensile strengths, yield strengths, and elongation of this alloy(T6) along the vertical and horizontal axis are 356 and 355 MPa, 307 and308 MPa, and 8.5% and 8.0%, respectively.

Microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of Mg-based Mg85Zn5Ni10 alloy powders

Mg85Zn5Ni10 ternary alloy was synthesized through vacuum induction melting for the first time.Phase compositions and microstructures of Mg85Zn5Ni10 alloy powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD)and scanning electron micro- scopy (SEM).By utilizing a Sieverts apparatus,the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation properties of Mg85Zn5Ni10 powders were measured systematically.XRD and SEM results indicated that the Mg85Zn5Ni10 alloy powders contained the major phase Mg,the eutectic Mg-Mg2Ni and Mg-MgZn2 mixtures.The possible reaction pathway can be inferred as follows:Mg +Mg2Ni +MgZn2 +H2←→MgH2+Mg2NiH4 +MgZn2,indicating that MgZn2 did not react with H2. After activation,the Mg85Zn5Ni10 alloy powders could absorb 5.4 wt.% hydrogen reversibly and held an excellent hydrogenation kinetics at a relatively low temperature.At 360 ℃,the alloy powders desorbed 5.351 wt.% hydrogen in 264 s.However,it only had fast dehydrogenation kinetics above 300 ℃.The existence of MgZn2 contributed to improving the kinetic properties.During the hydriding and dehydriding,the formed cracks and defects promoted the kinetics and thermodynamic properties.The activation energy for dehydrogenation was 75.514 kJ/mol.The enthalpy change values of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation were calculated to be -73.064 kJ/mol and 76.674 kJ/mol,respectively,indicating that melting with Ni and Zn could improve the thermodynamic property of Mg slightly.

Preparation for Semi-Solid Aluminum Alloy Slurry under Weak Electromagnetic Stirring Conditions

The effects of pouring temperature, short electromagnetic stirring with low strength and then soaking treatment on the microstructure of AISi7Mg alloy were investigated. The results show that if AlSi7Mg alloy is poured at 630 or 650℃ and meanwhile stirred by an electromagnetic field at a low power for a short time, the pouring process can be easily controlled and most solidified primary α-Al grains become spherical and only a few of them are rosette-like. Weak electromagnetic stirring makes the temperature field more homogeneous and makes the primary α-Al grains disperse in a larger region, which leads to the spherical microstructures of primary α-Al grains. When the AISi7Mg alloy is soaked or reheated at the semisolid state, the primary α-Al grains ripen further and they become more spherical, which is favorable to the semi-solid forming of AlSi7Mg alloy.

Al-Mg-Si合金双辊铸轧板坯不同位置处微观组织差异及其对板坯性能的影响

传统的热轧法生产Al-Mg-Si合金板材存在工序多、时间长和成本高等缺点,严重制约了Al-Mg-Si合金的发展,因此,近年来采用双辊铸轧工艺生产Al-Mg-Si合金板材获得了极大的关注。本工作采用双辊铸轧工艺制备Al-Mg-Si铝合金铸轧板坯,探究板坯不同位置的微观组织差异及其对板坯性能的影响,结果表明:板坯边部和心部的晶粒形貌差异明显,织构组成复杂,大量第二相沿晶界处不均匀分布,板坯内部存在明显的元素偏析。通过理论计算,铸轧板坯边部的织构强化贡献强度为10.7 MPa,晶界强化贡献强度为86.8 MPa,而铸轧板坯心部的织构强化贡献强度为15.1 MPa,晶界强化贡献强度为82.4 MPa,板织构和随机织构对于铸轧板坯的强度贡献有限,边部和心部的强度差异主要取决于晶界强化。板坯边部和心部存在不同程度的位错缠结,边部的位错密度高于心部,这与小角度晶界统计结果相一致。针对板坯组织不均匀性的特点,通过热力学计算,为板坯后续热处理制度提供了理论指导。

Er在Al-Mg-Si合金中的存在形式及其热力学分析

制备了3种不同铒元素含量的Al-Mg-Si合金,利用显微组织观察(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱分析(EDS)、X射线衍射物相分析(XRD)、硬度测试与差热分析(DSC)等分析测试手段,研究元素Er在Al-Mg-Si合金中的存在形式,并运用Miedema模型对Er在Al-Mg-Si合金中的热力学行为进行了分析。结果表明:在Al-Mg-Si合金中,Er元素的添加可以有效细化铸态晶粒,减小枝晶间距。Al-Mg-Si-Er合金凝固过程时可形成α(Al)+Er5Si3初生共晶组织,显微组织呈鱼骨状,合金中大量Er5Si3相的形成,使可时效析出的Mg2Si相减少,合金硬度值减小。原子亲和力和金属间化合物生成焓的计算结果显示Er-Si原子之间的亲和力大于Mg-Er和Al-Er原子之间的亲和力,且铒硅二元金属间化合物生成焓负值更大,熔点更高,因此,在Al-Mg-Si-Er合金中,Er原子与Si原子优先形成铒硅相。

热力学计算优化Al-Zn-Mg-Cu合金成分

利用Jmat-Pro热力学相图计算软件模拟Al-Zn-Mg-Cu合金的凝固路径以及该合金中MgZn2、Al2CuMg、Al2Cu和Al2Mg3Zn3相生成数量和生成温度随Zn、Mg和Cu含量变化的关系曲线;分析实验合金的微观组织。检测结果与热力学计算结果一致。热力学计算结果表明,在7150合金的成分优化过程中,当Zn、Mg和Cu元素的质量分数分别为6.4%～6.9%、2.3%～2.5%和2.0%～2.2%时,合金凝固组织中MgZn2相的生成数量可达4.5%～6.0%,同时,Al2CuMg相的生成数量可控制在0.5%以下。

熔体过热对Al-7%Si-0.50%Mg合金的显微组织和力学性能的影响

通过对Al 7%Si 0 5 0 %Mg合金进行不同温度的过热处理试验 ,研究了熔体过热对其显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明 :过热温度为 810～ 85 5℃时 ,即使不经过Sr变质处理 ,也可以明显细化Al 7%Si 0 5 0 %Mg合金的显微组织 ,提高其力学性能。过热温度为 845℃左右时 。

Mg-Li合金熔炼反应的热力学分析及铸锭显微组织

采用LiCl与LiF质量比为3:1的熔剂覆盖和氩气保护,在铸铁坩埚中熔炼,在铜模中浇注制备了Mg-6.1Li、Mg-8.2Li、Mg-10.8Li合金铸锭,获得了满意的铸锭显微组织。化学反应热力学分析表明,石墨、MgO不适合作Mg-Li合金熔铸的工具材质,适合Mg-Li合金熔铸的工具材质是铸铁、低碳钢、Mo、Cu、SiC。对反应进行了热力学分析,与试验结果基本一致。