On the nano-treating effect of Al2O3 on the eutectic Si in Al-Si alloy

An Al-15 Al2O3 alloy was added into Al-12Si melt to investigate the nano-treating effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on eutectic Si crystals. It was found that Al2O3 clusters may be partly swallowed by eutectic Si or distribute surrounding them. As a result, the flake-like eutectic Si in Al-12Si alloy can transform to granular or worm-like morphologies, attributing to the influence of Al2O3 nanoparticles on the growth behavior of eutectic Si crystals. The orientation relationship between Si and Al2O3 was identified, and the possible modifying mechanisms were discussed.

Automated summary

An Al-15 Al2O3 alloy was added to the Al-12Si melt to study the effect of Al2O3 nanoparticles on eutectic Si crystals. It was observed that Al2O3 clusters were either partly engulfed by eutectic Si or distributed around them. This resulted in a transformation of flake-like eutectic Si to granular or worm-like structures, influenced by Al2O3 nanoparticles on the growth behavior of eutectic Si crystals. The orientation relationship between Si and Al2O3 was identified, and the possible mechanisms for modification were discussed.