Effects of Ce Addition on the Mobility and Hot Tearing Tendency of Al-4.5Cu Alloy

This paper aims to study the effects of rare earth Cerium addition on mobility, solidification shrinkage, casting microstructure and hot tearing tendency of Al-4.5Cu alloy. Results show that by adding appropriate rare earth Cerium into the Al-4.5Cu alloy, the viscosity of liquid metals can be reduced, the mobility of alloy can be increased, and the shrinkage during the solidification of liquid metal can be reduced. Further more, as the tendency of alloy dendrite is inhibited and the microstructure of the casting alloy is improved, the alloy can be purified, its thermal conductivity can be enhanced, and the hot tearing tendency of it can be decreased remarkably. It proves that when rare earth Cerium addition in Al-4.5Cu alloy is 4w%, the mobility of Al-4.5Cu alloy will be the maximum, and its volume shrinkage will be the least. Meanwhile, the grains of alloy are refined and round. The alloy also shows the lowest hot tearing tendency.