Effect of Compound Modification on Microstructure and Properties of High Silicon Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

Double compound modification was carried out for hypereutectic Al-24Si alloy. The experiment showed that double modification with phosphorus and rare earth can fine the microstructure of alloy. The complex modifications of phosphorus and rare earth make the coarse block primary silicon obviously refined and the large needle eutectic silicon modified to the fine fibrous or lamella ones. The alloys with the additions of 0.10% P(phosphorus) and 0.90% RE(rare earth) have the optimal microstructure and the highest mechanical properties. Compared with the unmodified alloy, the primary silicon of alloys can be refined from 93.5μm to 24.1μm. The tensile strength is improved from 248MPa to 305MPa and the elongation is improved from 0.31% to 0.47%. Mechanism of double compound modification with phosphorus and rare earth is discussed as well.