The influence of the cooling rate on the microstructure of Al - Cu - Si, Al - Si and Al - Zn alloys

Abstract

The dendritic microstructures and solidification morphologies of Al-Cu-Si and Al-Si alloy were explored. Phase comparisons of Al-Zn, Al-Si and Al-Cu-Si alloy samples according to their rapid or slow cooling rate were made by using X-ray diffraction techniques, differences in the crystal structures of each alloy sample not being found. From differential scanning calorimetry investigations it was found that the rapidly solidified Al-Cu-Si sample released greater heat energy than the ingot sample of the same alloy, and the rapidly solidified Al-Si and Al-Zn alloys released less heat energy than the ingot samples of the same alloys during the heating regime in a differential scanning calorimeter. © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.