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The chemical phenol extraction of intermetallic particles from casting AlSi5Cu1Mg alloy
Author(s) -
MRÓWKANOWOTNIK G.,
SIENIAWSKI J.,
NOWOTNIK A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03273.x
Subject(s) - intermetallic , alloy , materials science , metallurgy , aluminium , scanning electron microscope , casting , aluminium alloy , composite material
Summary This paper presents a chemical extraction technique for determination of intermetallic phases formed in the casting AlSi5Cu1Mg aluminium alloy. Commercial aluminium alloys contain a wide range of intermetallic particles that are formed during casting, homogenization and thermomechanical processing. During solidification, particles of intermetallics are dispersed in interdendritic spaces as fine primary phases. Coarse intermetallic compounds that are formed in this aluminium alloy are characterized by unique atomic arrangement (crystallographic structure), morphology, stability, physical and mechanical properties. The volume fraction, chemistry and morphology of the intermetallics significantly affect properties and material behaviour during thermomechanical processing. Therefore, accurate determination of intermetallics is essential to understand and control microstructural evolution in Al alloys. Thus, in this paper it is shown that chemical phenol extraction method can be applied for precise qualitative evaluation. The results of optical light microscopy LOM, scanning electron microscopy SEM and X‐ray diffraction XRD analysis reveal that as‐cast AlSi5Cu1Mg alloy contains a wide range of intermetallic phases such as Al 4 Fe, γ‐ Al 3 FeSi, α‐Al 8 Fe 2 Si, β‐Al 5 FeSi, Al 12 FeMnSi.