Effect of solidification rate on the microstructure and microhardness of a melt-spun Al–8Si–1Sb alloy

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 479; no. 1; pp. 230 - 236
• Main Authors: Karaköse, E., Keskin, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.06.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Al–Si–Sb alloy; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Melt spinning; Microhardness; Microstructure; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; Physics; Rapidly solidification; Solidification; Melt spinning; Al–Si–Sb alloy; Microstructure; Microhardness; Rapidly solidification; Differential scanning calorimetry; Scanning electron microscopy; FCC lattices; Aluminium base alloys; Intermetallic compounds; XRD; Hardness; Dispersive spectrometry; Cast alloy; Al―Si―Sb alloy; Optical microscopy; Solidification rate; Rapid solidification
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2009.01.006

The properties of rapidly solidified hypoeutectic Al–8Si–1Sb alloy, produced by melt-spinning technique at a different solidification rates, were investigated using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), the optical microscopy (OM), the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the microhardness technique. The properties of rapidly solidified ribbons were then compared with those of the chill-casting alloy. The results show that rapid solidification has influence on the phase constitution of the hypoeutectic Al–8Si–1Sb alloy. The phases present in the hypoeutectic Al–8Si–1Sb ingot alloy were determined to be α-Al, fcc Si and intermetallic AlSb phases whereas only α-Al and fcc Si phases were identified in the melt-spinning alloy. The rapid solidification has a significant effect on the microstructure of the hypoeutectic Al–8Si–1Sb alloy. Particle size in the microstructure of the ribbons is too small to compare with particle size in the microstructure of the ingot alloy. Moreover, the significant change in hardness occurs that is attributed to changes in the microstructure.