Microstructure–properties correlation of pressure die cast eutectic aluminum–silicon alloys for escalator steps (Part I)

This paper is a study of the roles of strontium as a modifier and titanium as a refiner of the Al–12%Si commercial alloy for escalator steps processed by a hot-chamber pressure-die casting method. Specifically, two objectives were pursued. First, the detection of the level at which the modifier and the refiner become effective in altering the relevant microstructural parameters, namely, the volume fraction, grain size and shape of proeutectic phases. Second, investigation of the morphology of the eutectic matrix.