A novel method for improving the microstructure and the properties of Al-Si-Cu alloys prepared using rapid solidification/powder metallurgy

A novel method based on the combination of rapid solidification/powder metallurgy with hot extrusion was proposed in the present study for improving the microstructure and properties of Al-Si-Cu alloys. The phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the extruded Al-Si-Cu alloy were systematically investigated. The experimental results revealed that the extruded Al-Si-Cu alloy comprised five kinds of phases, namely, the & alpha;-Al, fi-Si, Al2O3, CuAl2, and Cu4Si phases. The extrusion process significantly reduced the porosity while improving the density of the Al-Si-Cu alloy. The tensile strength and elongation values of the extruded alloy were much larger than those of the unextruded alloy. The use of the proposed method improved the mechanical properties of the Al-Si-Cu alloy greatly compared to when using the traditional casting method.

Automated summary

A novel method combining rapid solidification/powder metallurgy with hot extrusion was proposed for improving the microstructure and properties of Al-Si-Cu alloys. The phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the extruded alloy were investigated. The results showed that the extruded alloy had five phases and exhibited improved density, tensile strength, and elongation compared to the unextruded alloy. This method greatly enhanced the mechanical properties of the Al-Si-Cu alloy compared to traditional casting.