Microstructure and mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al-Si alloy modified with Cu-P

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-14.6Si castings modified by Cu-P master alloy under different conditions were studied with optical microscope (OM) and mechanical testing and simulation (MTS). The results indicate that the Cu-P master alloy possesses not only obvious modification effect, but also longevity effect with more than 8 h on the hypereutectic Al-Si alloy. It is shown from thermal calculation, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) that the modification mechanism of Cu-P on primary silicon in the castings is heterogeneous nucleation around AlP particles. Die Cu-P master alloy has no or little modifying effect on eutectic silicon, even though it has obvious modification on primary silicon in the castings. This may be because of the fast transformation of eutectic silicon at a very narrow temperature, which will notably weaken the role of AlP particles as heterogeneous nuclei for eutectic silicon.