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Effect of Low Cu Content and Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High-Vacuum Die-Cast AlSiMgMn Alloys

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Abstract

AlSiMgMn-xCu (x = 0.1wt.%, 0.3wt.%, 0.6wt.%, 0.8wt.%) alloys were produced by a high-vacuum die-casting (HVDC) process, and the effect of varying Cu contents on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties under as-cast and T6 heat-treatment conditions have been systemically investigated. The results indicated that the microstructure under the as-cast state consists of α-Al, eutectic Si, β-Mg2Si, Q-Al5Cu2Mg8Si6, and θ-Al2Cu phases. Increasing the Cu content brought about an apparent change in the main precipitate of the alloys after T6 heat treatment. When the Cu content is 0.1 wt.%, the precipitate is only β′′ phase. As the Cu content increases to 0.3 wt.% and 0.6 wt.%, the β′′ and Q′ phases were co-precipitated in the α-Al matrix. As the Cu content further increases to 0.8 wt.%, the θ′ and Q′ phases were co-precipitated in the α-Al matrix and the predominant precipitate was the θ′ phase. As the content of Cu increases from 0.1 wt.% to 0.8 wt.%, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength after T6 heat treatment increase to 241 MPa and 366 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, the elongation increases to 8.2%. The improved mechanical properties are mainly attributed to the co-precipitation of the β′′, Q′, and θ′ phases.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51875211), Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. 2021A151510042), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities and Supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (No. L223001) and the Key Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province (No. 2020B010186002), Project of Key Technology Program of Foshan (No. 1920001001040).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Research Center of Near-Net Shape Forming for Metallic Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, China

    Fei Liu, Huiting Zheng, Yuanhang Jiang & Haidong Zhao

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  1. Fei Liu
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Liu, F., Zheng, H., Jiang, Y. et al. Effect of Low Cu Content and Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High-Vacuum Die-Cast AlSiMgMn Alloys. JOM 75, 1345–1356 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05651-z

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