Effect of Pouring Temperature on Microstructure and Hardness Profiles of Al-Al۲Cu Functionally Graded Materials Prepared by Interaction between Molten Al and Solid Cu

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) due to their gradient properties along one or more directions of the component have potential applications in some specific industries. In the present study, for the first time, these FGMs produced by employing a casting method via interaction between molten Al and solid Cu. A piece of solid copper placed in a ceramic mold, pre-heated to the desired temperature and subsequently filled with molten Al at the same temperatures as the pre-heated mold. Because of interaction between molten Al and solid Cu, Al-Cu melts with different Cu contents formed along the gravity direction resulting in a graded material due to formation of Al-Cu solid solution (Al-α) and Al-Al۲Cu eutectic along the height of the sample. The samples subjected to optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and hardness measurements at different points. It was found that the pouring temperature affected the resultant microstructure and hardness gradients in the samples via its effects on the cooling rates during solidification.

کلیدواژه ها:

Casting ، FGMs ، Al-Al۲Cu eutectic ، Microstructure ، Hardness ، Macrosegregation