Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russia¹ ; National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Moscow, Russia²

N. V. Letyagin, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Scientific Activity Sector¹, Leading Engineer of the Scientific Project², e-mail: n.v.letyagin@gmail.com

Moscow Polytechnic University, Moscow, Russia
E. S. Sheina, Bachelor, Department of “Applied Informatics”
A. S. Zhirnova, Specialist, Department of “Technologies and Equipment of Mechanical Engineering”
A. P. Demina, Specialist, Department of “Technologies and Equipment of Mechanical Engineering”

In this work, the effect of Fe and Si impurities on the structure and properties of alloys of the Al4Ca0.5CuMn system was studied. To determine the optimal concentration ranges of alloying and impurity elements, the phase composition was simulated in the Thermo-Calc software. The simulation results showed that the concentration of Mn is 0.8 wt.% can be considered as optimal in terms of forming a favorable structure and phase composition of the alloy with an increased content of Fe and Si up to 0.4 wt.% of each element. Smelting of model alloys of the Al4Ca0.5CuMnFeSi system with a Mn content of 0.7–0.8% and varying Fe content in the range up to 0.6 wt.% and Si up to 0.2 wt.%. with subsequent analysis of the cast structure by optical and scanning electron microscopy, it was possible to confirm the simulation results. The structure of the optimal composition of Al4Ca0.5Cu0.8Mn0.4Fe0.2Si alloy, adapted for smelting with the involvement of secondary raw materials, has a fine morphology with a size of eutectic intermetallic of ~ 4 microns. An increase in the proportion of Fe in the alloy of more than 0.4 wt.% leads to the appearance of coarse primary crystals of the Al6(Fe, Mn) phase. The alloy under study demonstrates a balanced set of casting and mechanical properties at the level of traditional silumins of type A356.0. The tensile strength is 180 MPa, the yield strength is 125 MPa, the elongation is 5.2%. The general appearance of the fracture structure is fibrous, which corresponds to the characteristics of favorable ductile fracture.

This work was financially supported by the Moscow Polytechnic University within the framework of the grant named after Pyotr Kapitsa.

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