Effect of rare earth elements on the microstructure and properties of a die-cast aluminum alloy

Ruixiang Zhu; Yong Su; Xinyu Qin; Nan Hu; Liangyu Lu

doi:10.3139/120.111299

Article

Effect of rare earth elements on the microstructure and properties of a die-cast aluminum alloy

Ruixiang Zhu , Yong Su , Xinyu Qin , Nan Hu and Liangyu Lu

Published/Copyright: April 24, 2019

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From the journal Materials Testing Volume 61 Issue 2

Abstract

The effects of the rare earth elements Ce, La and Sm on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a die-cast aluminum alloy were studied. First, the optimal percentage content of the main elements in the alloy was determined by a single factor and by orthogonal experiments based on the composition range of ADC12 aluminum alloy. The results showed that the optimal percentage content of the main elements in ADC12 die-cast aluminum alloy were 11 wt.-% Si, 2.5 wt.-% Cu, 0.5 wt.-% Mn and 0.3 wt.-% Mg. The tensile strength was 285 MPa and the fracture strain 2.23 %. Then, three rare earth elements of varied contents were added to the above-mentioned aluminum alloy. The tensile strength and elongation of the alloy were increased through the addition of rare earth elements. The comprehensive mechanical property of the alloy was best when Ce, La and Sm levels were at 0.6, 0.4 and 0.2 wt.-%, respectively, in the single factor test. Sm had the largest influence on the comprehensive mechanical properties of the alloy, followed by Ce and La which had the least influence.

*Correspondence Address, Professor Yong Su, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230009, P. R. China, E-mail: zhuruixiang1125@163.com, suyong1963@126.com

Ruixiang Zhu, born in 1991, is a postgraduate student at the Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China, whose research interests mainly include metal materials and casting process simulation.

Professor Yong Su, born in 1963, is master's tutor at the of Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China. He received his Master's Degree in Materials from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China in 1988, and his PhD at Hefei University of Technology. His research interests mainly include non-ferrous metal materials and forming technology, carbon fiber composite materials, and casting process simulation.

Xinyu Qin, born 1993, is a postgraduate student at the Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China, with research interests in metallic materials and casting process simulation.

Nan Hu, born 1992, is a postgraduate student at the Hefei University of Technology in Hefei, China, with research interests in metallic materials and casting process simulation.

Liangyu Lu, born 1992, is a postgraduate student at the Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China, with research interests in metallic materials and casting process simulation.

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Published Online: 2019-04-24

Published in Print: 2019-02-04

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