Microstructures and Properties of V-Modified A380 Aluminum Alloy Produced by High Pressure Rheo-Squeeze Casting with Compound Field Treatment

Abstract

The melt of V-modified A380 alloy aluminum alloy was treated by compound field of ultrasonic vibration (UV) and electromagnetic stirring (ES) around liquidus temperatures. Then the high pressure rheo-squeeze casting (HPRSC) process was used to produce an ingot with the alloy melt obtained. The results indicate that the polygonal Si2V phase is precipitated after adding vanadium to the alloy. With the increasing of V content from 0 to 1.05%, the average length and volume fraction of β-Al5FeSi phase is decreased to 30 μm and 1.44%, respectively. The refinement effects of UV, ES, and UV-ES compound field on the microstructure of the gravity casting alloy are as follows: UV-ES > UV > ES. When the pressure is increased from 0 to 400 MPa, the size of primary α-Al is decreased gradually, the morphology of β-Al5FeSi phase is changed from an acicular to a fine fibrous-like one, and the polygonal Si2V phase is refined to fine particle with an average grain diameter of about 8 μm. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and elongation of the alloy without V are lower than that of the alloy with 0.7% V under the same pressure. When the pressure is 400 MPa, the UTS, YS, and elongation of T6 heat-treated HPRSC alloy with 0.7% V are 301 MPa, 182 MPa, and 3.3%, respectively. With the decrease in the length of β-Al5FeSi phase, the quality index of the HPRSC alloy is increased.