Effect of Fe-rich intermetallics on the microstructure and mechanical properties of thixoformed A380 aluminum alloy

The effect of α-Fe and β-Fe intermetallics concentration and morphology as well as α-Al morphology on the microstructure and mechanical properties of thixoformed and gravity cast A380 alloy was reported. The α-Al15Si2(Fe,Mn)3 intermetallic particle was observed polyhedral morphology in thixoforming while it was observed Chinese script morphology in conventional gravity casting. The β-Al5FeSi particle was solidified in the form of small plate in thixoforming while it was solidified in the form of needle-like in gravity casting at the grain boundaries of α-Al. The mechanical properties of the alloys have been enhanced by thixoforming compared with the conventional cast condition.