Advantages and disadvantages of various elements in aluminum alloys affecting the properties of aluminum alloys
1 Copper (cu) Copper is an important alloying element in aluminum alloys, and has a certain solid solution strengthening effect. In addition, the cual 2 precipitated by aging has a significant aging strengthening effect.
Advantages: Solid solution strengthening and aging strengthening effect are good, and the strengthening effect is the best when the copper content is 4 to 6.8, so the copper content of most hard aluminum alloys is in this range. Increase the copper content, improve the fluidity, tensile strength and hardness of the alloy, so that the mechanical properties can be improved, and the machinability can be improved.
Disadvantages: reduce corrosion resistance and plasticity, increase the tendency of hot cracking.
2 Magnesium (mg) The strengthening of aluminum by magnesium is significant, and the tensile strength increases by about 34mpa for each increase of 1 magnesium. If 1 or less manganese is added, the strengthening effect may be supplemented. Therefore, after adding manganese, the magnesium content can be reduced, and the tendency of hot cracking can be reduced at the same time. In addition, manganese can make the compound of mg 5 al 8 precipitate evenly, and improve the corrosion resistance and welding performance.
Advantages: Improve tensile strength and yield limit, improve machinability of alloys.
Disadvantage: mg 2 si will make the casting brittle.
3 Silicon ( si ) The maximum solubility of mg 2 si in aluminum is 1.85, and it decreases with the decrease of temperature. In deformed aluminum alloys, the addition of silicon to aluminum plates is limited to welding materials, and the addition of silicon to aluminum also has certain strengthening. effect.
Advantages: Improve the casting properties of the alloy. Silicon and aluminum can form a solid solution, which can improve the high-temperature moldability of the alloy, reduce the shrinkage rate, and have no tendency to thermal cracking. Improve tensile strength, hardness, machinability and strength at high temperature, while reducing elongation.
Disadvantages: The crystallized silicon (si) is prone to hard spots of free silicon, which makes the machinability worse, and the high-silicon aluminum alloy has a serious corrosion effect on the casting crucible.
4 iron (fe) Advantages: The adhesion of aluminum alloy to the mold is very strong, especially when the iron content is below 0.6%, that is, it is difficult to demold. When the iron content exceeds 0.6%, the sticking phenomenon is greatly reduced.
Disadvantages: When the iron content in the aluminum alloy is too high, iron exists in the alloy in the form of flakes or needles of feal 3 , fe 2 al 7 and al-si-fe, forming metal compounds and forming hard spots. This structure also reduces mechanical properties, increases hot cracking, and makes castings brittle. And when the amount of iron (fe) exceeds 1.2, the fluidity of the alloy is reduced, the quality of the casting is damaged, and the life of the metal components in the die-casting equipment is shortened.
5 Manganese (mn) The maximum solubility of manganese in solid solution is 1.82. The strength of the alloy increases continuously with the increase of solubility, and the elongation reaches the maximum value when the manganese content is 0.8. Al-mn alloys are long and short age-hardening alloys, that is, they cannot be strengthened by heat treatment.
Advantages: Alloy strength increases with increasing solubility. When the manganese content is 0.8, the elongation reaches the maximum value. Manganese (mn) can prevent the recrystallization process of aluminum alloys, increase the recrystallization temperature, and can significantly refine the recrystallization grains. The refinement of recrystallized grains is mainly due to the hindering effect of mnal 6 compound dispersed particles on the growth of recrystallized grains. Another function of mnal 6 is to dissolve impurity iron (fe) and form (fe, mn) al 6 , so that the flake or needle-like structure formed by iron in the aluminum alloy becomes a fine crystal structure and reduces the harmful effects of iron. influences.
Disadvantages: When the manganese content is too high, it will cause segregation.
6 nickel ( ni ) Advantages: There is a tendency to increase tensile strength and hardness, which has a great impact on corrosion resistance.
Disadvantages: Reduced corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity.
7 Zinc (zn) Advantages: The addition of zinc and magnesium to aluminum forms the strengthening phase mgzn 2 , which will significantly strengthen the alloy.
Disadvantages: There is a tendency for stress corrosion cracking.












