ISRN MetallurgyVolume 2012 (2012), Article ID 631096, 7 pagesdoi:10.5402/2012/631096

Research Article

Effect of Isothermal Holding on Semisolid Microstructure of Al–Mg₂Si Composites

A. Malekan,¹ M. Emamy,¹ J. Rassizadehghani,¹ and M. Malekan²

¹School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395-731, Tehran, Iran²Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Processing (CEAMP), School of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Narmak, Tehran 16846-13114, Iran

Received 5 February 2012; Accepted 3 April 2012

Academic Editors: A. Chrysanthou, C.-G. Kang, D. V. Louzguine-Luzgin, G. Purcek, J. M. Rodriguez-Ibabe, and A. Squillace

Copyright © 2012 A. Malekan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Effect of heat treatment and isothermal holding has been investigated on the microstructure and degree of globularity of Al–Mg₂Si composites. Different contents of reinforcement, 15, 20, and 25% have been used in this study. Isothermal holding experiments were conducted at 585 °C for 140 min. Results showed that, upon heat treatment, grain size of dendrites was reduced while the degree of nodularity was increased. Results of nodularity were obtained using an image-analyzing software which gives the distribution of radius of curvature for different phases of particles. According to the results, in contrast to Al–15 and 25% Mg₂Si, isothermal holding significantly influenced the microstructure of Al–20% Mg₂Si composites. Two companion mechanisms have been proposed for the generation of globular grains. SEM investigations were also employed to confirm the optical observations.

1. Introduction

Superior mechanical properties, as well as increased possibility to control the production process have been the main challenge with which manufacturing of engineering materials is faced. Semisolid processing is claimed to be one of the best approaches which can fulfill such properties. The aim of the semisolid processing is to achieve a fine globular structure. Thus, it is clear that controlling the microstructure of semisolid material is of great importance [1–3]. Possessing a fine globular (nondendritic) microstructure which can be obtained through semisolid-forming processes yields superior advantages over conventional casting and solid-forming methods among which one can mention high quality components capable of full-heat treatment to maximize properties, reduction of macrosegregation, solidification shrinkage, and forming temperature [1–4].

Different methods are classified in semisolid-processing techniques such as magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stirring [7], spray forming [8], strain-induced melt-activated (SIMA)/recrystallization and partial melting (RAP) [9, 10], and liquidus/near-liquidus casting [11]. The key feature that permits the shaping of alloys in the semisolid state is the absence of dendrites [1, 4]. Hence, partial remelting and isothermal holding recently have been widely used specially for Al–Mg₂Si composites which are also the subject of the current study. Partial remelting and isothermal holding provide a minimum total interfacial energy which is a key factor among composite materials [1, 12].

The Mg₂Si-reinforced Al composites are great potential as automobile brake disc material because the Mg₂Si intermetallic compound exhibits a high melting temperature of 1085°C, low density of 1.99 × 10³ kgm⁻³, high hardness of 4.5 × 10⁹ Nm⁻², a low-thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of 7.5 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, and a reasonably high elastic modulus of 120 GPa [13–16]. However, the primary Mg₂Si phases in normal as-cast Al/Mg₂Si composites are usually very coarse which in turn leads to poor mechanical properties. Therefore, composites with predominantly coarse primary Mg₂Si crystals must be modified to ensure adequate mechanical strength and ductility [1–3, 12, 13].

Current study investigates the effect of isothermal holding in ternary zone (Figure 1) at a temperature slightly higher than that of solidus on the microstructure of the Al–Mg₂Si in situ composites with different reinforcement contents. This study aims to achieve a higher processability and performance in this composite via the mentioned treatment.

Figure 1: Calculated equilibrium phase diagram of Al–Mg₂Si pseudobinary section. The pseudoeutectic point is at Al–13.9 wt.% Mg₂Si, the temperature range of the ternary region at this composition is between 594 and 583.5°C, and the solubility of Mg₂Si in Al at 583.5°C is 1.91 wt.% [2, 5, 6].

2. Material and Methods

Commercial pure Al (99.8%), Mg (99.9%), and Si (99.5%) have been used to produce Al–Mg₂Si primary ingots (8 kg). Due to the importance of elemental loss during the preparation of the melt and according to previous works [12, 13, 16], amount of weight loss was selected 3, 10, and 15% for Al, Si, and Mg, respectively. Note that the amount of weight loss for Mg (15%) was due to the high amount of oxidation of this element in the temperature rang used for preparation of the melt. First, pure Al (7 kg) was melted at 750°C in a graphite crucible with the capacity of 10 kg using an electrical resistance furnace. Then, Si and Mg were added to the melt. In order to avoid Mg weight loss, small amount of Sulphur was added to the molten alloy surface. Then molten metal matrix composite (MMC) was maintained at 750°C, 800°C, and 850°C for about 15 minutes for Mg₂Si contents of 15, 20, and 25%, respectively (in accordance to phase diagram). Table 1 shows the chemical composition of hypereutectic Al–15, 20, and 25% Mg₂Si in situ metal matrix composites (MMCs). The primary ingots were cut in small pieces, with the approximate dimensions of 40 mm × 30 mm × 20 mm, appropriate for a 2 kg SiC crucible. Then the cut ingots were remelted in another electrical resistance furnace. A flux powder was used to ensure that the melt surface was covered during melting period. Degassing was conducted by using dry tablets containing C₂Cl₆ powder (0.3 wt.% of the molten MMC) by wrapping in an aluminum foil before submerging into the melt using a graphite plunger. The melt was degassed for about 5 min. After stirring and cleaning off the dross, molten MMC was poured into a cylindrical cast iron mould (34 mm diameter and 45 mm height, Figure 2) and left to cool in the air.

Table 1: Chemical composition of hypereutectic Al–15, 20 and 25% Mg₂Si in-situ metal matrix composites.

Material
Si
Fe
Cu
Mn
Mg
Cr
Ni
Zn
Ti
Al

15% Mg₂Si
5.72
0.163
0.01
0.01
9.82
0.01
0.0168
0.128
0.01
Base

20% Mg₂Si
7.7
0.12
0.01
0.012
12.8
0.02
0.02
0.1
0.01
Base

25% Mg₂Si
9.23
0.134
0.01
0.01
16.1
0.01
0.012
0.09
0.011
Base

Figure 2: Schematic drawing of cylindrical cast iron mould.

The calculated equilibrium diagram of the Al–Mg₂Si system as a vertical section of the ternary Al–Mg–Si system is shown in Figure 1. The figure indicates that there is a narrow ternary phase region of (liquid + α-Al+ Mg₂Si) between 583.5 and 594°C at the pseudoeutectic point. The composition of the pseudoeutectic is 13.9 wt.% Mg₂Si, and the solubility of Mg₂Si in the α-Al at 583.5°C is 1.91 wt.% [2, 5, 6]. Figure 1 was used as a guide to select the proper treatment temperature.

Heat treatment experiments were performed in a high accurate temperature-controlled electrical resistance furnace (±2°C). The specimens were isothermally kept at 585°C for 140 min followed by quenching in cold water.

Microstructural investigations were conducted using samples each cut from upper 1 cm of the primary heat treated and as-cast samples. The cut sections were polished and then etched by HF (1%) to reveal the structure. The microstructural characteristics of the specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy performed in a Vega Tescan SEM. Finally, computer software (Clemex Vision Pro. Ver. 3.5.0.25) was used to calculate the grain size and nodularity of the Mg₂Si phase.

3. Results and Discussion

Figure 3 shows the typical as-cast microstructure of Al–20% Mg₂Si composite. It is clear from the phase diagram (Figure 1) that the compositions of all samples are located in the hyper section of the diagram. Basically, this means that the microstructure is consisted of coarse primary Mg₂Si particles in a matrix of α-Al and pseudoeutectic cells. Figure 4 shows the XRD pattern of the as-cast Al–Mg₂Si composite. The result reveals that the components of the composite consist of Al, Mg₂Si, SiO₂, and MgO phases, as expected. The microstructure of the Al–Mg₂Si specimens before (as cast) and after the heat treatment are shown in Figure 5. Although the microstructure of the sample with 15% of Mg₂Si prior to the heat treatment (Figure 5(a)) reveals a nondendritic and coarse morphology for reinforcement particles, but the dendritic and also coarse morphology is obvious for the samples with 20 and 25% Mg₂Si (Figures 5(c) and 5(e)). As seen in Figure 5, heat treatment has rendered the morphology to a finer and globular structure for all specimens.

Figure 3: As-cast microstructure of Al–20% Mg₂Si composite.

Figure 4: XRD pattern of as-cast Al–Mg₂Si composite.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Figure 5: Microstructure of Al–Mg₂Si samples before and after heat-treatment in (a) 15% (as cast) (b) 15% (heat treated) (c) 20% (as cast) (d) 20% (heat treated) (e) 25% (as-cast) (f) 25% (heat treated).

Results of quantitative investigations for the primary Mg₂Si grain size obtained by image analyzer software are listed in Figure 6. The grain size was generally reduced after the heat treatment. As seen in Figure 6, heat treatment has more significant effect for the Al–20% Mg₂Si composite which shows a 70.75% reduction in the grain size.

Figure 6: Comparison between primary Mg₂Si mean grain size for as-cast and heat-treated samples at different Mg₂Si wt.%.

Table 2 summarizes the results of nodularity for the samples before and after the heat treatment in terms of distribution in the radius of curvature (RC). Equation (1) was used to calculate the RC values [17] as follows: where is area, and is perimeter of the particle. Generally the RC values are laid between 0 and 1. Lower values of this parameter represent a coarse morphology with less globularity while higher values correspond to a spherical structure. According to Table 2, for Al–15% Mg₂Si, the portion of the structure corresponds to RC values lower than 0.65 which represent a coarse structure and have been reduced from 40 to 22.73% after the heat treatment, while other portions of structure with RC values of 0.65–0.8 and 0.8–1.0, respectively, have shown an increase in magnitude. Same trend is also concluded for both other samples (Table 2). Thus, it is concluded that the heat treatment has enhanced the nodularity of the Mg₂Si phase which is more significant for the Al–20 and 25% Mg₂Si composite samples. From the stand point of energy, sharp corners are preferential sites to melt and therefore melt faster in comparison to others. This fact was employed to explain the observed decrease in the portion of structure with RC values of lower than 0.65 in Al–15% Mg₂Si samples which primarily possessed a nondendritic structure. On the other hand, fracture of Al–Mg₂Si dendrites in 20 and 25% samples is claimed to be the reason behind the increase in the nodularity and refining of grains.

Table 2: Results of nodularity for samples before and after heat treatment.

Type
RC* (<0.65) (%)
RC (0.65–0.8)
RC (0.8–1)

Al–15% Mg₂Si (as cast)
40
36
24

Al–15% Mg₂Si (heat treated)
22.73
40.91
36.36

Al–20% Mg₂Si (as cast)
90
0
10

Al–20% Mg₂Si (heat treated)
13.46
17.31
69.23

Al–25% Mg₂Si (as cast)
90.91
4.55
4.55

Al–25% Mg₂Si (heat treated)
37.21
25.58
37.21

*Radius of curvature.

According to the results, it is concluded that the effect of heat treatment was more significant for the Al–20% Mg₂Si sample while its effect for Al–15 and 25% samples was not conspicuous. Indeed, in Al–15% Mg₂Si, heat treatment has only partially melted the sharp corners of the nondendritic particles and though has not greatly enhanced the grain size and nodularity. Higher content of reinforcement in Al–25% Mg₂Si is also thought to necessitate more time and temperature of treatment to yield a globular and fine structure. Since fracture of dendrites is the dominant mechanism for increase in the nodularity of the Al–20 and 25% Mg₂Si composite, agglomeration of fractured dendrites becomes possible within treatment period. This in turn can explain the rather coarse globular structure of heat-treated Al–25% 7(Mg₂Si sample, as observed in Figure 5(f).

Significant influence of the heat treatment on the Al–20% Mg₂Si sample was confirmed by SEM images of corresponding microstructure shown in Figure 7. Spherical grains of α-Al and Mg₂Si particles obtained after heat treatment are evident in this figure. As seen, Mg₂Si particles size has been reduced while nodularity increased. It is also observed that a few “liquid islands” are entrapped inside lightα-Al and dark primary Mg₂Si grains in the samples, as indicated by arrows in Figure 7. Figure 8 shows the microstructure of Al–20% Mg₂Si composite after the heat treatment in higher magnification. The eutectic Mg₂Si particles that were diffuse in the as-cast structure (Figure 7(a)) are gathered in intercellular regions after the heat treatment (Figure 8). It can be also observed that the most of globular primary Mg₂Si particulates are present in the liquid phases distributed at the grains boundaries; however, a few of ones are present inside the α-Al grains [2], as shown in Figures 7(b) and 8.

(a)

(b)

Figure 7: SEM micrograph of Al–20% Mg₂Si composite in (a) as cast and (b) after heat treatment that showing the fine and globular grains of α-Al and Mg₂Si.

Figure 8: High magnification SEM micrograph of Al–20% Mg₂Si composite after heat treatment.

Figure 9 depicts the underling behavior of Mg₂Si and α-Al particles during the heat treatment. Dissolution of last solidified phases with low melting point occurs during the initial stages of heat treatment. The boundaries of these original phases, which were formed due to segregation, are further penetrated by the surrounding melt in a temperature above the solidus (Figure 9(b)). Dendrite arms are then remelted at their roots which lead to normal ripening of dendrite arms (Figure 9(c)). At next step, the fragmented arm renders to a spheroidal or ellipsoidal grain (Figure 9(d)). It is obvious that the size of this new grain is dependent on the size of its original dendrite arm. At next step and in case of short spacing between ripened dendrite arms, joining of adjacent particles occurs, and as a result a little amount of liquid known as “Liquid Islands” will be entrapped inside the yielded grain which is also identified as a new globular grain (Figure 9(e)). When heating continuous to the semisolid temperature and holding for a predetermined time, it also evolves toward spheroidal morphology. There are several coarsening mechanisms during the isothermal holding. One coarsening mechanism is the coalescence of the grains, namely, two grains join together and leave some bigger entrapped “liquid islands” in between the two grains, as mentioned above [18]. Another grain-coarsening mechanism is likely to the Ostwald ripening [18, 19], in which the large grains grow and the small grains remelt. Until the holding time and temperature or reinforcement content increase, the amount of the liquid phase between the grains increases to attain the equilibrium condition, and the two apparent mechanisms are shown for the liquid phase inside the grains, which coalesces to become larger in size, and also become spheroidal in shape to reduce the surface energy. Therefore, it should be noted that further increase in time and temperature of the treatment or reinforcement content can lead to more joining of grains or fragmented arms, and this in turn yields a coarser morphology and probably undesired properties [1, 2, 18–21].

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Figure 9: Schematic illustration of semisolid structure evolution during heat treatment of (a) original dendrites, (b) and (c) melting, liquid penetration and combining, (d) removing and (e) coalescence, ripening and spheroid formation.

4. Conclusions

The effect of isothermal holding on the microstructure and nodularity of the Al–Mg₂Si in-situ composites was studied. The following conclusions can be drawn.(1)Microstructure of all tested samples prior to the heat treatment is consisted of coarse Mg₂Si phases in a matrix of α-Al and pseudoeutectic cell. (2)The morphology of Mg₂Si particles is nondendritic for the sample with 15% of reinforcement, while it is dendritic for the samples with 20 and 25% of reinforcement. Heat treatment resulted in a finer and globular structure in all samples but was more significant for Al–20% Mg₂Si. (3)Partial remelting of sharp corners is thought to be the underling mechanism for increased nodularity in the sample with 15% of Mg₂Si phase, while for the samples with 20 and 25% of Mg₂Si, fragmentation and/or further joining of adjacent particles is claimed to be dominant. Inordinate increase in the treatment time and temperature or reinforcement content can result a coarser globular grains which may yield an improper properties.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank University of Tehran for financial support of this work.

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