Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys

The current study aimed at analyzing the response of semisolid A357 aluminum alloys to unconventional thermal treatment cycles of T4/T6/T7 conditions. The mechanical, electrical, and microstructural characterizations of such semisolid alloys were investigated. The microstructure evolutions of Fe-int...

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Main Authors: Khaled Ahmed Ragab, Mohamed Bouazara, Xiao Grant Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-09-01
Series:Metals
Subjects:
SEM
TEM
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/8/10/746
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spelling doaj-7b0505f2ac86497ea2ff19418d501c7d2020-11-24T21:27:41ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012018-09-0181074610.3390/met8100746met8100746Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid AlloysKhaled Ahmed Ragab0Mohamed Bouazara1Xiao Grant Chen2Applied Sciences, University of Quebec, Chicoutimi, QC G7H2B1, CanadaApplied Sciences, University of Quebec, Chicoutimi, QC G7H2B1, CanadaApplied Sciences, University of Quebec, Chicoutimi, QC G7H2B1, CanadaThe current study aimed at analyzing the response of semisolid A357 aluminum alloys to unconventional thermal treatment cycles of T4/T6/T7 conditions. The mechanical, electrical, and microstructural characterizations of such semisolid alloys were investigated. The microstructure evolutions of Fe-intermetallic phases and strengthening precipitates were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The mechanical failure of such semi solid A357 aluminum alloys, used for suspension automotive parts, is mostly related to cracking issues which start from the surface due to hardness problems and propagate due to severe load variations. For these reasons, the multiple thermal aging cycles, in this study, are applied to enhance the mechanical properties and to have compromised values compared to those obtained by standard thermal treatments. The results obtained in this work indicate that the heat treatment of this alloy can be optimized. The results showed that the optimum characteristics of A357 semisolid alloys were obtained by applying thermal under-aging cycle, interrupted thermal aging cycles and a T7/T6 two steps aging treatment condition. The electrical conductivity and electron microscopy were applied in this study to analyze the characteristics of hardening phases formed due to different aging cycles applied to the alloys investigated.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/8/10/746multiple thermal agingmechanical propertieselectrical conductivityaluminum semi solid alloysSEMTEM
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Khaled Ahmed Ragab
Mohamed Bouazara
Xiao Grant Chen
spellingShingle Khaled Ahmed Ragab
Mohamed Bouazara
Xiao Grant Chen
Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys
Metals
multiple thermal aging
mechanical properties
electrical conductivity
aluminum semi solid alloys
SEM
TEM
author_facet Khaled Ahmed Ragab
Mohamed Bouazara
Xiao Grant Chen
author_sort Khaled Ahmed Ragab
title Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys
title_short Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys
title_full Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys
title_fullStr Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Thermal Aging Parameters on the Characteristics of Aluminum Semi-Solid Alloys
title_sort influence of thermal aging parameters on the characteristics of aluminum semi-solid alloys
publisher MDPI AG
series Metals
issn 2075-4701
publishDate 2018-09-01
description The current study aimed at analyzing the response of semisolid A357 aluminum alloys to unconventional thermal treatment cycles of T4/T6/T7 conditions. The mechanical, electrical, and microstructural characterizations of such semisolid alloys were investigated. The microstructure evolutions of Fe-intermetallic phases and strengthening precipitates were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The mechanical failure of such semi solid A357 aluminum alloys, used for suspension automotive parts, is mostly related to cracking issues which start from the surface due to hardness problems and propagate due to severe load variations. For these reasons, the multiple thermal aging cycles, in this study, are applied to enhance the mechanical properties and to have compromised values compared to those obtained by standard thermal treatments. The results obtained in this work indicate that the heat treatment of this alloy can be optimized. The results showed that the optimum characteristics of A357 semisolid alloys were obtained by applying thermal under-aging cycle, interrupted thermal aging cycles and a T7/T6 two steps aging treatment condition. The electrical conductivity and electron microscopy were applied in this study to analyze the characteristics of hardening phases formed due to different aging cycles applied to the alloys investigated.
topic multiple thermal aging
mechanical properties
electrical conductivity
aluminum semi solid alloys
SEM
TEM
url http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/8/10/746
work_keys_str_mv AT khaledahmedragab influenceofthermalagingparametersonthecharacteristicsofaluminumsemisolidalloys
AT mohamedbouazara influenceofthermalagingparametersonthecharacteristicsofaluminumsemisolidalloys
AT xiaograntchen influenceofthermalagingparametersonthecharacteristicsofaluminumsemisolidalloys
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