Effect of magnesium, iron (impurity) and solidification rates on the fracture toughness of Al-7Si-0.3Mg casting alloy

Murali, S and Raman, KS and Murthy, KSS (1992) Effect of magnesium, iron (impurity) and solidification rates on the fracture toughness of Al-7Si-0.3Mg casting alloy. In: Materials Science and Engineering A, 151 (1). pp. 1-10.

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Abstract

A dynamic fracture toughness study on Al-7Si-0.3Mg casting alloy with cadmium trace addition and at varying magnesium and iron levels and solidification rates was carried out using an instrumented impact testing machine. With an increase in magnesium and iron contents, the load-time curves showed a change from sinusoidal to triangular shape. Even at a low iron level of 0.2%, with an increase in magnesium content from 0.32 to 0.65% the total energy absorbed to fracture $E_T$ dropped significantly by about 50%, demonstrating the enhancement of the embrittlement effect of magnesium on the alloy. At 0.32% Mg, an increase in iron content from 0.2 to 0.8% significantly decreased $E_T$, the dynamic fracture toughness $K_d$ and the critical flaw size $a_{cr}$. The embrittling effect on the alloy containing a higher level of iron (0.8%) is attributed to the presence of $\beta$ phase $(FeSiAl_5)$. A distinct brittle fracture seen on the fractured specimens and the ratio $P_{max}/P_{gy}$ of unity both further confirmed this embrittling effect. Generally, an increase in solidification rate produces higher $E_T$, $K_d$ and $a_{cr}$ values, and teh effect was more pronounced at lower magnesium and iron levels than at higher levels.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Materials Science and Engineering A
Publisher:	Elsevier Science B.V.
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to the Elsevier Science B.V.
Keywords:	magnesium;iron (impurity);solidification rates
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	28 Mar 2008
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:43
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/13529

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