Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Quaternary Eutectic a plus ? plus Q plus Si Clusters in As-Cast Al-Mg-Si-Cu Alloys

Cu additions notably strengthen Al-Mg-Si and Al-Si-Mg alloys due to the dense precipitation of quaternary nano precipitates during ageing. However, the chemical evolution and mechanical behaviors of the quaternary micro-scale Q constituent phase occurring in cast and homogenized states have rarely been studied. Meanwhile, there exists a type of AlCuMgSi cluster in the cast state, which has been regarded as Q particles. The accurate identification of phase constituents is the basis for the future design of alloys with better performance. In our work, this type of cluster was revealed to consist of & alpha;-Al, & theta;-Al2Cu, Q, and Si phases through micro-to-atomic scale studies using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The skeleton of the dendrite was & theta; phase. The second phases in the dendritic eutectic cluster dissolved quickly during a 4 h homogenization at 550 & DEG;C. The Q phase was found to effectively absorb the Fe impurities during casting and homogenization. As a result, the formation of other harmful Fe-rich intermetallics was suppressed. These Q constituent particles were observed to break into separate pieces in an intermediately brittle manner when compressed in situ in a scanning electron microscope. These findings provide insights into the thermodynamic modeling of the Al-Mg-Si-Cu system and alloy design.

Automated summary

This study reveals the chemical evolution and mechanical behavior of quaternary micro-scale Q constituent phase in the cast and homogenized states through micro-to-atomic scale studies. These findings provide a basis for the future design of alloys with better performance.