SOLUTION TREATMENT EFFECT ON MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AUTOMOTIVE CAST ALLOY

The contribution describes influence of the heat treatment (solution treatment at temperature 545°C and 565°C with different holding time 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 hours; than water quenching at 40°C and natural aging at room temperature during 24 hours) on mechanical properties (tensile strength and Brinell hardness) and microstructure of the secondary AlSi12Cu1Fe automotive cast alloy. Mechanical properties were measured in line with EN ISO. A combination of different analytical techniques (light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) were therefore been used for study of microstructure. Solution treatment led to changes in microstructure includes the spheroidization and coarsening of eutectic silicon. The dissolution of precipitates and the precipitation of finer hardening phase further increase the hardness and tensile strength of the alloy. Optimal solution treatment (545°C/4 hours) most improves mechanical properties and there mechanical properties are comparable with mechanical properties of primary AlSi12Cu1Fe alloy. Solution treatment at 565 °C caused testing samples distortion, local melting process and is not applicable for this secondary alloy with 12.5 % Si.