Solidification of Al-Mn-based alloys under various processing parameters

Abstract

A number of Al-Mn-based alloys were investigated with a view to their commercialization. Various casting techniques were used to affect the constitution of the alloys studied from crystalline to quasi-crystalline as well as other metastable states. Variations in cooling rates and chemical composition, along with other processing parameters, have been shown to allow us to control the final constitution and properties of what we believe could be the next generation of commercial Al-based alloys. Our research has shown that the solidification process of Al-Mn based alloys with additions of other metallic elements can lead to the formation of very complex final states, opening up possibilities for designing and controlling the properties of alloys. The solidification process in the alloys studied proved to be very complex, but can be explained by basic knowledge of the crystallisation of metallic melts. We have discovered that by changing the processing parameters and the chemical composition of the alloys in a controlled way, it is possible to tailor the final properties of the alloys, making them attractive for commercial purposes.