Effect of La Addition on Solidification Behavior and Phase Composition of Cast Al-Mg-Si Alloy
V. B. Deev, E. S. Prusov, П. К. Шуркин, Э. Х. Ри, S. V. Smetanyuk, Xizhang Chen, С. В. Коновалов
Abstract
The current study focusses on the phase composition, solidification path, and microstructure evaluation of gravity cast Al-4Mg-0.5Si-xLa aluminum alloy, where x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt.% La. A computational CalPhaD approach implemented in Thermo-Calc software and scanning electron microscopy technique equipped with electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) was employed to assess its above-mentioned characteristics. The thermodynamic analysis showed that the equilibrium solidification path of La-containing Al-Mg-Si alloys consists of only binary phases LaSi2 and Mg2Si precipitation along with α-Al from the liquid and further solid-state transformation of this mixture into α-Al + Al11La3 + Mg2Si + Al3Mg2 composition. Scheil–Gulliver simulation showed a similar solidification pathway but was accompanied by an increase in the solidification range (from ~55 °C to 210 °C). Furthermore, microstructural observations were congruent with the calculated fraction of phases at 560 °C and related to α-Al + LaSi2 + Mg2Si three-phase region in terms of formation of La-rich phase having both eliminating effect on the eutectic Mg2Si phase. Quantitative EMPA analysis and elemental mapping revealed that the La-rich phase included Al, La, and Si and may be described as Al2LaSi2 phase. This phase shows a visible modifying effect on the eutectic Mg2Si phase, likely due to absorbing on the liquid/solid interface.