The Effect of High-Intensity Electron Beam on the Crystal Structure, Phase Composition, and Properties of Al–Si Alloys with Different Silicon Content

Abstract

The study deals with the element–phase composition, microstructure evolution, crystal-lattice parameter, and microdistortions as well as the size of the coherent scattering region in the Al–10.65Si–2.11Cu and Al–5.39Si–1.33Cu alloys irradiated with the high-intensity electron beam. As revealed by the methods of x-ray phase analysis, the principal phases in untreated alloys are the aluminium-based solid solution, silicon, intermetallics, and Fe2Al9Si2 phase. In addition, the Cu9Al4 phase is detected in Al–10.65Si–2.11Cu alloy. Processing alloys with the pulsed electron beam induces the transformation of lattice parameters of Al–10.65Si–2.11Cu (aluminium-based solid solution) and Al–5.39Si–1.33Cu (Al1 and Al2 phases). The reason for the crystal-lattice parameter change in the Al–10.65Si–2.11Cu and Al–5.39Si–1.33Cu alloys is suggested to be the changing concentration of alloying elements in the solid solution of these phases. As established, if a density of electron beam is of 30 and 50 J/cm2, the silicon and intermetallic compounds dissolve in the modified layer. The state-of-the-art methods of the physical materials science made possible to establish the formation of a layer with a nanocrystalline structure of the cell-type crystallization because of the material surface irradiation. The thickness of a modified layer depends on the parameters of the electron-beam treatment and reaches maximum of 90 µm at the energy density of 50 J/cm2. According to the transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy data, the silicon particles occupy the cell boundaries. Such changes in the structural and phase states of the materials response on their mechanical characteristics. To characterize the surface properties, the microhardness, wear parameter, and friction coefficient values are determined directly on the irradiated surface for all modification variants. As shown, the irradiation of the material surface with an intensive electron beam increases wear resistance and microhardness of the Al–10.65Si–2.11Cu and Al–5.39Si–1.33Cu alloys.