The main aim of this paper is to present an environmentally friendly method for aluminum recycling. Development of new recycling technologies in order to increase scrap reuse potential and CO 2 emission savings are of the main importance for aluminum circular economy. In this paper, aluminum chips waste was recycled without any remelting phase in order to increase energy and material savings. The presented process is usually called solid state recycling or direct recycling. Solid state recycling process consists of chips cleaning, cold pre-compaction and hot direct extrusion followed by a combination of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) and heat treatment. Influence of holding time during solid solution treatment and both artificial aging time and temperature on mechanical properties of the recycled EN AW 6082 aluminum chips were investigated. A comprehensive number of the experiments were performed utilizing design of experiments approach and response surface methodology. Regression models were developed for describe the influence of heat treatment parameters for presented solid state recycling process on mechanical properties of the recycled samples. Utilizing novel procedure high quality recycled samples were obtained with mechanical properties comparable with commercially produced EN AW 6082 aluminum alloy in T6 temper condition. Metallographic analysis of the recycled samples was also performed.In order to reduce the negative effect on the environment, various authors recognized solid state recycling (SSR) as a possible alternative to the conventional aluminum recycling process [4][5][6][7][8][9]. When SSR is employed, material losses are much smaller because the remelting phase is completely avoided. Aluminum is a highly reactive material and it has a tendency to form aluminum oxide on its surface. This is even more pronounced for lightweight aluminum scrap due to its high surface to mass ratio. During the remelting process this oxide is floating on the melt surface mixed with dross. Therefore, aluminum lightweight scrap (chips, foils, and sheet skeletons) is problematic when conventional recycling technology is used because up to 20% of the aluminum can be lost due to the mixing with dross and burning [9]. According to previous research papers concerned with SSR process, it is possible for material yield to be over 90% when this type of recycling is employed, while energy consumption can be only 10% compared to conventional recycling process that uses remelting [6][7][8]. Furthermore, manufacturing profiles from solid state bonded chips gives a 96% saving in CO 2 emission compared to production from billets made by conventional recycling of aluminum manufacturing waste [8]. In order to produce SSR samples with appropriate quality, the combination of the high temperature, normal stress, shear stress, and plastic deformation should be achieved [6,7]. Therefore, the most used process for SSR is direct hot extrusion, but lately severe plastic deformation (SPD) processes opened new possibilities [10]. SPD i...
As a major impurity element in aluminium-lithium (Al-Li) alloys, iron (Fe) reduces formability, fracture toughness, and fatigue resistance by solidifying into Al6Fe and Al3Fe particles. The research was performed in order to estimate the influence of Fe impurities on the compression behaviour of Al-2.24Mg-2.09Li alloy. The investigation was performed on the samples in as cast and solution hardened condition. The solution hardening was applied to improve the mechanical properties by dissolving intermetallic particles and enriching ?Al matrix with Mg. However, the higher strength properties and temperature increase during the compression testing were observed in as cast condition. Microstructural investigation revealed significant differences in microstructure changes between the samples in as cast and solution hardened condition. In as cast sample the barrelling effect led to the unequal deformation and surface texture development. The eutectic Al3Fe particles located in the ?Al interdendritic areas did not significantly impact microstructure changes. Although the solution hardening led to enrichment of ?Al matrix with Mg and Fe, the Al3Fe particles were not dissolved. The coarse morphology of Al3Fe particles and location at the grain boundaries of ?Al grains contributed to low energy intergranular fracture. The fracture nucleation and propagation across the grain boundaries resulted in lower strength values.
The utilization of aluminum-lithium-magnesium (Al-Li-Mg) alloys in the transportation industry is enabled by excellent engineering properties. The mechanical properties and corrosion resistance are influenced by the microstructure development comprehending the solidification of coherent strengthening precipitates, precipitation of course and angular equilibrium phases as well as the formation and widening of the Precipitate-free zone. The research was performed to determine the microstructure degradation of Al-2.18Mg-1.92Li alloy in a corrosive environment using electrochemical measurements. The solidification sequence of the Al-2.18Mg-1.92Li alloy, obtained using Thermo–Calc software support, indicated the transformation of the αAl dendritic network and precipitation of AlLi (δ), Al2LiMg (T), and Al8Mg5 (β) phase. All of the phases are anodic with respect to the αAl enabling microstructure degradation. To achieve higher microstructure stability, the sample was solution hardened at 520 °C. However, the sample in as-cast condition showed a lower corrosion potential (−749.84 mV) and corrosion rate (17.01 mm/year) with respect to the solution-hardened sample (−752.52 mV, 51.24 mm/year). Higher microstructure degradation of the solution-hardened sample is a consequence of δ phase precipitation at the grain boundaries and inside the grain of αAl, leading to intergranular corrosion and cavity formation. The δ phase precipitates from the Li and Mg enriched the αAl solid solution at the solution-hardening temperature.
Effects of additions of 0.00064, 0.001 and 0.0042 wt.% Bi on the graphite structure in the section thicknesses of 3,12,25, 38, 50, 75 and 100 mm of spheroidal graphite cast iron castings containing 2.11 wt.% Si and rare earth (RE) elements (Ce + La + Nd + Pr + Sm + Gd) in the range from 0.00297 to 0.00337 wt.% were analyzed in this paper. Addition of Bi was not necessary for obtaining high nodule count and nodularity higher than 80% in section thicknesses of 3, 12 and 25 mm. RE elements showed a beneficial effect on the nodule count and nodularity in these sections. Nodularity was below 80% in section thicknesses of 38, 50, 75 and 100 mm when Bi was not added. Detrimental effect of RE elements on graphite morphology in these sections was neutralized by adequate addition of Bi. Addition of 0.001 wt.% Bi (ratio of RE/Bi = 3.27) was enough to achieve nodularity above 80% in the section thickness of 38 mm. Nodularity was increased above 80% in section thicknesses of 50, 75 and 100 mm by addition of 0.0042 wt.% Bi (ratio of RE/Bi = 0.78). At the same time, Bi significantly increased the nodule count. Nodularity above 80% and the high nodule count in the section thicknesses of 75 and 100 mm were also achieved by using an external metallic chill in the mold. In this case, addition of Bi was not required.
The corrosion resistance of aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) foundry alloys is a result of microstructure development influenced by melt treatment and solidification. As a part of the main eutectic (αAl + βSi), βSi particles are cathodic with respect to the αAl matrix enabling micro-galvanic couple formation and localized corrosion. Despite its high polarization and low current density, increase in the eutectic (αAl + βSi) will contribute to the microstructure degradation of an alloy in corrosive environment. The research was performed in order to estimate the influence of eutectic βSi particles size on the microstructure degradation of AlSi12 alloy with mixed morphology of eutectic (αAl + βSi). The results of light microscopy indicated preferred initiation and progress of cavities involving modified eutectic (αAl + βSi) with eutectic βSi particles of smaller average particle size. The unmodified eutectic (αAl + βSi) with lamellar morphology and dendrites of primary αAl phase were not visually affected by degradation. The average cavity size and pH value of the solution increase with the increasing exposure time, while microstructure degradation rate decreases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.