Elaboration of AlSi10Mg casting alloys using directional solidification processing

The effects of pulling velocity on the solidification behavior and microstructural parameters of AlSi10Mg alloys prepared in a Bridgman-type directional solidification furnace were investigated. The microstructure, particularly the secondary dendritic arm spacing (SDAS), and the Brinell hardness (BH) of the solidified AlSi10Mg alloys were characterized for samples with cylindrical shapes and different conicities (θ=0°, 5°, and 10°). Microstructural studies revealed an increased density of α-Al phase dendrites and a decreased interdendritic distance with increasing pulling velocity. The dendrites were found to be preferentially oriented along the pulling direction for low pulling velocities. For larger pulling velocities, the dendrites grew first in the cooling direction but then broke as others nucleated and coarsened. The HB values of the solidified samples increased as the pulling velocity increased. In regard to sample conicity, smaller dendrites were observed for an apex angle of θ=5°, resulting in the largest HB value. This result was interpreted in terms of the favorable orientation of the dendrite along the pulling direction.