Designing the composition and processing route of aluminum alloys using CALPHAD: Case studies

Aluminum alloys have been widely used in various industries, and continuous improvement in the properties of these alloys is required to meet consumer demand for high-performance devices. This review introduces five recent case studies where the CALPHAD method was applied in the development of high-performance Al alloys. CALPHAD calculations can reasonably predict the solidification microstructure of the Al-7Si-2Cu-1Mg alloy and 4343/3527/4343 brazing sheets, although, some deviations are caused by solid-state diffusion occurring during the actual solidification process. CALPHAD is useful for predicting the complex solidification behavior of Al-(12-18)Si piston alloys and Al-6Mg-9Si-10Cu-10Zn-3Ni natural composites, and the precipitation behavior of the Al matrix. The application of CALPHAD can also provide valuable information on the properties of Al alloys, such as that on the erosion of brazing sheets, fluidity of alloy melts, and refinement of secondary phases by melt treatment.