Morphological evolution of ZrAlSi phase and its impact on the elevated-temperature properties of Al–Si piston alloy

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 567; pp. 82 - 88
• Main Authors: Gao, Tong, Zhu, Xiangzhen, Sun, Qianqian, Liu, Xiangfa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 05.08.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Al–Si piston alloy; Binary systems; Blocking; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Deformation and plasticity (including yield, ductility, and superplasticity); Elasticity and anelasticity; Elongation; Evolution; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Mechanical and acoustical properties; Mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; Mechanical properties; Mechanical properties of solids; Morphology; Phase diagrams and microstructures developed by solidification and solid-solid phase transformations; Physical properties of thin films, nonelectronic; Physics; Pistons; Precipitation; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Treatment of materials and its effects on microstructure and properties; Yield strength; Zirconium; ZrAlSi phase; Mechanical properties; ZrAlSi phase; Morphology; Al–Si piston alloy; Temperature dependence; Precipitation; Intermetallic compounds; Volume fraction; Yield strength; Al―Si piston alloy; Microstructure; Tensile properties; Tensile strength
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.03.064

•Morphology evolution of ZrAlSi phase in Al–18Si–xZr alloys was detected.•The morphology transforms from flake-like to block-like with Zr content.•Effect of different morphological ZrAlSi on the properties of an A–Si piston alloy was studied.•Blocky ZrAlSi phase is good for the elevated-temperature tensile strength. It is investigated that the morphologies of ZrAlSi phase in Al–18Si–xZr alloys will evolve from flake-like to block-like with increasing Zr content and the precipitation of the ZrAlSi intermetallic decreases the volume fraction of primary Si phase. The effect of flake-like and block-like ZrAlSi phase on the microstructure and elevated-temperature mechanical properties of an Al–Si multicomponent piston alloy was also investigated. It was found that flake-like ZrAlSi particles lead to a decrease of 7.28%, 3.23% and 8.85% for the elevated-temperature tensile strength, elongation and yield strength of the piston alloy, respectively, whereas block-like particles cause an increase of 15.82%, 12.94% and 14.75%, respectively. Meanwhile, the linear expansion is almost unaffected.