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INFLUENCE of HOLDING TIME on the MODIFICATION

EFFICIENCY of Sr in A360 ALLOY


Inal Kaan Duygun1, Caglar Yuksel2, Eray Erzi1, Derya Dispinar1
kaanduygun@gmail.com cyuksel@yildiz.edu.tr eerzi@istanbul.edu.tr deryad@istanbul.edu.tr
1 Istanbul University, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, 34320 Avcilar, Turkey
2 Yildiz Technical University, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, 34220, Davutpasa, Turkey

ABSTRACT
Improved mechanical properties in Al-Si alloys can be achieved by Sr modification where elongated and coarse Si phases are altered
to short, fine and fibrous morphology. The addition of Sr is carried out by Al-15 wt% Sr master alloy where the total quantity of Sr in
the alloy is preferred to be around 300 ppm. When a melt that contain Sr is held for a long time prior to casting, strontium oxide is
formed and thus the content of strontium in the melt is decreased which is known as the “fading effect”. The oxidation process is
quite complex because the types of oxides recorded to exist are typically SrO, SrO.Al2O3 spinels and Al2O3. Since melt quality is
majorly effected by bifilms which are folded oxide skins, the influence of Sr modification in A360 alloy over holding period of the
melt on the melt quality has been evaluated. Tensile bars were produced in sand and die mould. Reduced pressure test was used to
assess melt quality. Microstructural analysis was carried out. Sample collection was made at 4th and 17th hours of holding and it was
found that both bifilm index and Sr modification was decreased over time.

In this work the effect of holding time on modification was investigated by 700°C 750°C
comparing modified (300 ppm Sr) and unmodified alloys at 700°C and
750°C.

Unmodified
Alloy Fe Si Cu Mn Mg Zn Ni Ti Sn
A360 0,50 9,00- 0,10 0,40- 0,30- 0,10 0,15 0,05 0,05
10,00 0,60 0,45
Modified

The A360 alloy (ETİAL-171) ingot was cut into smaller pieces and charged
crucibles in resistance furnace. The melts were modified with Sr by
adding an Al-15%Sr master alloy. the melts were held at temperatures of Samples which were held 17 hours in furnace
700°C and 750°C. For each temperatures four metal casting and four lost-
foam casting were carried out at 4th and 17th hours.

Microstructure Bifilm index and Shape


Unmodified Modified
Factor
4 Hours
17 Hours

The microstructures of samples, which was cast with


lost-foam method at 700°C
Unmodified Modified
4 Hours
17 Hours

The microstructures of samples, which was cast


with lost-foam method at 750°C

Conclusion
Reduced pressure
test samples The faster cooling rates result in finer eutectic silicon in
alloys. As the holding time increases from 4 hours to 17
700°C 750°C hours the eutectic silicon takes a coarser shape at same Sr
consentrations. In each case the eutectic microstructure
becomes finer and globular by Sr modification.
Unmodified

The increasing holding time of melts, modified with 300


ppm Sr has lower bifilm index, compared to the unmodified
alloys and the samples which have lower holding times.
Modified

Reduced pressure test samples which were held 4 hours


in furnace

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