Effect of Y and Ce Micro-alloying on Microstructure and Hot Tearing of As-Cast Al-Cu-Mg Alloy

doi:10.1007/s40195-024-01671-7

Abstract

Abstract:

In this work, the Al-Cu-Mg alloy with different Y (0-0.2 wt%) and Ce (0.5-1.5 wt%) are designed. The effect of mixed addition of Y and Ce on the grain structure and hot tearing for Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloy was investigated using "cross" hot tearing mould. The results indicate that as rare earth Y and Ce increases, the grain size becomes finer, the grain morphology changes from dendrite to equiaxed grain, and effectively reduce the hot tearing sensitivity coefficient (HTS₁) and crack susceptibility coefficient (CSC) of the alloy. With the increase of Ce element (0.5-1.5 wt%), the hot tearing susceptibility of the alloy decreases first and then increases. With the increase of Y element (0-0.2 wt%), the hot tearing sensitivity of the alloy decreases. When the content of rare earth is 0.2 wt% Y + 1.0 wt% Ce, the minimum HTS₁ value and CSC value of the alloy are 68 and 0.53, respectively. Rare earth Ce refines the alloy microstructure, shortens the feeding channel, and reduces the hot tearing initiation. Meanwhile, the rare earth Y can form Al₆Cu₆Y phase at the grain boundary, improve the feeding capacity of the alloy. Therefore, appropriate addition of rare earth Y and Ce can effectively reduce the hot tearing tendency of the alloy.

Key words: Al-Cu-Mg alloy, Y and Ce, Microstructure, Thermal analysis, Hot tearing sensitivity

Chunyu Yue, Bowen Zheng, Ming Su, Yuxiang Wang, Xiaojiao Zuo, Yinxiao Wang, Xiaoguang Yuan. Effect of Y and Ce Micro-alloying on Microstructure and Hot Tearing of As-Cast Al-Cu-Mg Alloy[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2024, 37(6): 939-952.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of a "cross" hot tearing test device; b thermal analysis test system; and c sampling location

Table 1 Chemical compositions of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr-xY-yCe (x = 0-0.2 wt%, y = 0.5-1.5 wt%) alloys

No.	Rare earth added	Actual composition (wt%)
No.	Rare earth added	Cu	Mg	Zr	Y	Ce	Al
S1	0 wt% Y + 0.5 wt% Ce	4.37	1.61	0.16	-	0.52	Bal.
S2	0 wt% Y + 1.0 wt% Ce	4.35	1.56	0.15	-	1.03	Bal.
S3	0 wt% Y + 1.5 wt% Ce	4.42	1.58	0.15	-	1.55	Bal.
S4	0.1 wt% Y + 0.5 wt% Ce	4.42	1.55	0.15	0.11	0.53	Bal.
S5	0.1 wt% Y + 1.0 wt% Ce	4.49	1.47	0.15	0.11	1.06	Bal.
S6	0.1 wt% Y + 1.5 wt% Ce	4.48	1.59	0.16	0.10	1.57	Bal.
S7	0.2 wt% Y + 0.5 wt% Ce	4.35	1.49	0.14	0.21	0.55	Bal.
S8	0.2 wt% Y + 1.0 wt% Ce	4.45	1.47	0.15	0.21	1.02	Bal.
S9	0.2 wt% Y + 1.5 wt% Ce	4.41	1.58	0.15	0.21	1.57	Bal.

Fig. 2 SEM morphologies of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce additions: a S1, b S2, c S3, d S4, e S5, f S6, g S7, h S8, i S9

Fig. 3 EDS analyses of S9 alloy: a analysis location, b point A, c point B, d point C

Fig. 4 EPMA analyses of the S8 alloy: a microstructure, b Al, c Cu, d Mg, e Y, f Ce

Fig. 5 a XRD of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce additions, TEM analysis of the S8 alloy: b Al2Cu, c Al2CuMg, d Al6Cu6Y, e Al8Cu4Ce

Fig. 6 Hot tearing photos and HTS1 values of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce additions

Fig. 7 CSC values of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce

Fig. 8 Shrinkage force and temperature curves of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce additions: a S1, b S2, c S3, d S8

Fig. 9 SEM analyses of the hot tearing for Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr-xY-yCe (x = 0-0.2 wt%, y = 0.5-1.5 wt%) alloys: a S1, b S2, c S3, d S4, e S5, f S6, g S7, h S8, i S9

Fig. 10 Cooling curves and corresponding cooling rate curves of Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce additions: a S1, b S8

Fig. 11 SEM micrographs of the hot tearing fracture surfaces for Al-4.4Cu-1.5Mg-0.15Zr alloys with different Y and Ce additions: a S1, b S8, c, d S9

Fig. 12 Schematic diagram of the hot tearing formation mechanism

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