Microstructures and properties of Al-45%Si alloy prepared by liquid-solid separation process and spray deposition

The microstructures and properties of Al-45%Si alloy prepared by liquid-solid separation (LSS) process and spray deposition (SD) were studied. The results show that the size, shape and distribution of the primary Si phase have different influence on the properties of alloys. Comparing with the Si particles with irregular shape, fine size and continuous distribution in SD alloy, the primary Si phase in LSS alloy is sphere-like, coarse and surrounded by the continuous Al matrix. The microstructure features of LSS alloy are beneficial to the higher thermal conductivity and lower thermal expansion coefficient at room temperature. The fine Si particle in SD alloy is advantageous to improving the mechanical properties. The increasing rates of thermal expansion coefficient with temperature are influenced by the distribution of the Si particles, where a lower rate is obtained in SD alloy with continuous Si particles. The agreement of thermal expansion coefficient with the model in LSS alloy differs from that in the SD alloy because of the different microstructure characteristics.