Solidification Structures and Properties of Cast Samples of Zinc-Aluminum Alloys and Composites

RAFAEL AURAS; SCHVEZOV, CARLOS

Light Metals 1999

R. D. Peterson, editor. A publication of the Minerals, Metals, & Materials Society.

Lugar: San Diego – California - USA.; Año: 1999; p. 869 - 874

Zinc-Alluminium alloys and composites containig different Silicon and Copper concentrations were cast and analysed. The results show that silicon and copper follow opposite behaviours. Silicon is found as thick as plates inside the dendrites while copper is found in the interdendritic regions as laminar intermetllic eutectic. Silicon precipitates for all the concentrations with a tendency to coalesce at higher concentrations while copper is completely dissolved at low concentrations. The addition of silicon carbides particles in the alloys increases the hardness. In addition, there is an indication that the particles reduce the size of the solidification microstructure.