Effect of β-Fe Precipitates on the Mechanical Behavior of Al-Si Alloys with Critical Fe, Inoculated via Nb+B and Precipitation Hardened

The challenge of this research is to produce safety parts in Al-Si alloys with Fe-critical. The innovation is in studying the morphology of β-Fe and Mg 2 Si precipitates in the mechanical behavior of the material after the addition of NbB and the heat treatment. Aiming to improve the mechanical properties of AlSi alloys coming from recycling (Fe-critical) by manipulating the β-Fe precipitates and maintaining the Mg 2 Si precipitates. The samples were cast with Al10Si1Fe0.35Mg alloy, inoculated via NbB, and pouring in a metal mold according to ASTM B108. The microstructure was analyzed with BSE-SEM and EDS. The work investigated the morphology of β-Fe precipitates and their effects and interactions on the material’s mechanical properties. The combined effect of the addition of NbB and Mg elements, with subsequent artificial aging of the material, resulted in the reduction and spheroidization of the β-Fe precipitates, providing higher proof strength (YS=207.71MPa), Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS=300.35MPa) and elongation of 4.66 %.