The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties during high-speed direct-chill casting in different Al-Mg<sub>2</sub>Si <i>in situ</i> composites

Dong-tao Wang; Hai-tao Zhang; Lei Li; Hai-lin Wu; Ke Qin; Jian-zhong Cui

doi:10.1007/s12613-018-1659-7

Volume 25 Issue 9

Sep. 2018

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Article Navigation > International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy and Materials > 2018 > 25(9): 1080-1089

Dong-tao Wang, Hai-tao Zhang, Lei Li, Hai-lin Wu, Ke Qin, and Jian-zhong Cui, The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties during high-speed direct-chill casting in different Al-Mg₂Si in situ composites, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 9, pp. 1080-1089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1659-7

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Dong-tao Wang, Hai-tao Zhang, Lei Li, Hai-lin Wu, Ke Qin, and Jian-zhong Cui, The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties during high-speed direct-chill casting in different Al-Mg2Si in situ composites, Int. J. Miner. Metall. Mater., 25(2018), No. 9, pp. 1080-1089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-018-1659-7

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Research Article

The evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties during high-speed direct-chill casting in different Al-Mg₂Si in situ composites

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Corresponding author:
Hai-tao Zhang E-mail: haitao_zhang@epm.neu.edu.cn
Received: 1 November 2017; Revised: 9 May 2018; Accepted: 10 May 2018

Abstract

Abstract

The effect of high-speed direct-chill (DC) casting on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Mg₂Si in situ composites and AA6061 alloy was investigated. The microstructural evolution of the Al-Mg₂Si composites and AA6061 alloy was examined by optical microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results revealed that an increase of the casting speed substantially refined the primary Mg₂Si particles (from 28 to 12 μm), the spacing of eutectic Mg₂Si (from 3 to 0.5 μm), and the grains of AA6061 alloy (from 102 to 22 μm). The morphology of the eutectic Mg₂Si transformed from lamellar to rod-like and fibrous with increasing casting speed. The tensile tests showed that the yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation improved at higher casting speeds because of refinement of the Mg₂Si phase and the grains in the Al-Mg₂Si composites and the AA6061 alloy. High-speed DC casting is demonstrated to be an effective method to improve the mechanical properties of Al-Mg₂Si composites and AA6061 alloy billets.
- Al-Mg₂Si in situ composite;
- casting speed;
- grain size;
- primary Mg₂Si;
- mechanical property

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