Precipitation Kinetics and Evaluation of the Interfacial Mobility of Precipitates in an AlSi7Cu3.5Mg0.15 Cast Alloy with Zr and V Additions

Abstract

Recent environmental restrictions constrained car manufacturers to promote cast aluminum alloys working at high temperatures (180 °C–300 °C). The development of new alloys permits the fabrication of higher-strength components in engine downsizing. Those technologies increase internal loadings and specific power and stretch current materials to their limits. Transition metals in aluminum alloys are good candidates to improve physical, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties with the aim of increasing service life of parts. This study is focused on the modified AlSi7Cu3.5Mg0.15 alloy where Mn, Zr, and V have been added as alloying elements for high-temperature applications. The characterization of the cast alloy in this study helps to evaluate and understand its performance according to their physical state: As-cast, as-quenched, or artificially aged. The precipitation kinetics of the AlSi7Cu3.5Mg0.15 (Mn, Zr, V) alloy has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, and micro-hardness testing. The Kissinger analysis was applied to extract activation energies from non-isothermal DSC runs conducted at different stationary heating rates. Finally, first-order evaluations of the interfacial mobility of precipitates were obtained.

The Effect of Variation of Aluminum Thickness Series 7075 in Heat Treatment Solution on Tensile Strength and Microstructure

“…The solution heat treatment process was carried out at a temperature of 495°C with a long holding time duration of 30 minutes. To obtain a precipitation hardening reaction, a saturated solid solution is required beforehand [7]. For the aluminum alloy material to pass through these conditions, a solution heat treatment process is needed [8].…”

Influence of Copper Addition in AlSi7MgCu Alloy on Microstructure Development and Tensile Strength Improvement

“…Common AlSi7Mg alloy represents a frequent choice for complex geometry castings with high properties demand due to excellent castability and favorable relation between strength and weight, especially in the heat-treated state. Synergy of alloying and trace elements contributes to the wide range of intermetallic phase evolution [1][2][3][4][5][6]. The content of secondary alloying elements (Mg, Cu) significantly changes the solidification path of the Al-Si alloy [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Differential Scanning Calorimetry Fingerprints of Various Heat-Treatment Tempers of Different Aluminum Alloys

“…Heugue et al [6] used the DSC analysis to develop a method to characterize precipitation kinetics in Al-3.5%Cu alloy. In a subsequent study [8], they applied this method to investigate the precipitation kinetics of AlSi7Cu3.5Mg0.15 cast alloy. In addition, some calorimetric studies [9][10][11][12][13][14] focused on the effects of chemical compositions, DSC parameters and process on the precipitation behavior of aluminum alloys.…”