Selective Laser Melting of Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu: Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure Evolution, Mechanical Properties and Wear Resistance

doi:10.1007/s40195-021-01279-1

Abstract

Abstract:

Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu alloy specimens have been fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). In this study, the effects of solution treatment, quenching, and artificial aging on the microstructural evolution, as well as mechanical and wear properties, have been investigated. The as-prepared samples show a heterogeneous cellular microstructure with two different cell sizes composed of α-Al and Si phases. After solution-treated and quenched (SQ) heat treatment, the cellular microstructure disappears, and coarse and lumpy Si phase precipitates and a rectangular Cu-rich phase were observed. Subsequent aging after solution-treated and quenched (SQA) heat treatment causes the formation of nanosized Cu-rich precipitates. The as-prepared SLMs sample has good mechanical properties and wear resistance (compressive yield strength: 215 ± 6 MPa and wear rate 2 × 10^-13 m³/m). The SQ samples with lumpy Si particles have the lowest strength of 167 ± 13 MPa and the highest wear rate of 6.18 × 10^-13 m³/m. The formation of nanosized Cu-rich precipitates in the SQA samples leads to the highest compressive yield strength of 233 ± 6 MPa and a good wear rate of 5.06 × 10^-13 m³/m.

Key words: Selective laser melting, Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloy, Heat treatment, Microstructure, Mechanical properties, Wear properties

Pei Wang, Sijie Yu, Jaskarn Shergill, Anil Chaubey, Jürgen Eckert, Konda Gokuldoss Prashanth, Sergio Scudino. Selective Laser Melting of Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu: Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure Evolution, Mechanical Properties and Wear Resistance[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2022, 35(3): 389-396.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig. 1 X-ray diffraction patterns of the SLM Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu samples in as-prepared, solution-quenched (SQ) and solution-quenched, and artificially aged (SQA) conditions

Fig. 2 Optical microscopy images of SLM Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu samples in (a) as-prepared, (b) solution-quenched, (c) solution-quenched artificially aged conditions

Fig. 3 Bright-field scanning electron microscopy images and corresponding energy-dispersive spectroscopy maps at high magnification for etched SLM Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu samples: (a) as-prepared, (b) solution quenching, (c) solution-quenched artificial aging

Fig. 4 (a) Wear rate (20 N load), compressive yield strength, and Vickers microhardness of SLM Al-7Si-0.5 Mg-0.5Cu samples in three different conditions (as-prepared, SQ, and SQA). Black bars represent the wear rate, red bars represent the compressive yield strength, and the blue bars represent the Vickers microhardness data. (b) Wear rate plotted as a function of load for the SLM-processed material in as-prepared and heat-treated conditions

Fig. 5 Bright-field scanning electron microscopy images of the worn surfaces of (a) as-prepared, (b) solution-quenched, (c) solution-quenched artificially aged samples under low and high magnification after wear testing

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