Combined effects of ultrasonic melt treatment, Si addition and solution treatment on the microstructure and tensile properties of multicomponent Al[sbnd]Si alloys

The effects of ultrasonic melt treatment (UST) on the microstructure and tensile properties of three multicomponent Al[sbnd]Si alloys with different Si contents (12, 15, and 18 wt%Si) and solution treatments were systematically investigated at room and elevated (350 °C) temperatures. The microstructures of these alloys consisted of primary Si, eutectic Si, Mg₂Si, and various types of aluminides, but the average size and area fraction of the primary Si increased with Si content. The application of UST caused a transformation from dendritic to equiaxed cells and a reduction in grain size, with a significant reduction in the size of all secondary phases (i.e., Si, Mg₂Si and aluminides). Both the strength and ductility at room and elevated temperatures were greatly improved by UST, mainly due to microstructure refinement. Improvements in the high-temperature tensile strength as a result of UST increased with increasing Si contents, due to the enhanced refinement of primary Si by UST with increasing Si contents. The spherodization of rigid phases induced by solution treatment can improve the strength and ductility at room temperature, but can also cause a loss of strength at elevated temperatures due to the relaxation of the interconnected network structure of rigid phases caused by their spherodization.