Affiliation:
1. School of Material and Metallurgy, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of pulsed magnetic fields (33 mT) under varying ageing temperatures (175, 185 and 195 °C) on α-Al grains, secondary phases and mechanical properties of A356 aluminium alloy. Results show that magnetic field ageing treatment can not only refines α-Al grains and promotes Si particle precipitation, but also improves the size and morphology of eutectic Si. The optimal α-Al grain refinement post-magnetic field treatment is observed at an ageing temperature of 195 °C. Meanwhile, the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength values were recorded at 345 and 283 MPa, respectively. The magnetic field ageing treatment exerts a dual influence: it accelerates atom diffusion, fostering the precipitation of reinforcing phases and simultaneously refines alloy grains, increasing the grain boundaries.