Effects of Be and Fe additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A357.0 alloys

A357 hypoeutectic alloy is a heat-treatable Al-Si-Mg system with a nominal composition of Al-7 pct Si and about 0.6 pct Mg have widespreaded applications, especially in the aerospace and automotive industries. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of Be and Fe content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A357.0 alloys. Distinct morphologies were discerned between Be-containing and Be-free alloys. The Be-free alloys contain larger amount of iron-bearing phases with Mg than in Be-containing alloys. The addition of Be can change the plateletlike structure of iron-bearing phases to a comparatively harmless round nodular form. Also, the amounts of iron-rich phases are significantly lower and the silicon particles are smaller and more spherical in the Be-containing alloys. Small amounts of Be in A357.0 caused significant increases in the precipitation kinetics of Mg₂Si. It was found that the addition of Be lowers the ternary and binary eutectic melting point. The amount of Mg available to form the major strengthening phase Mg₂Si is increased promoting the tensile strength of A357.0 casting. The tensile properties were improved with decreasing Fe content and the addition of Be. The effect is more apparent in the higher Fe alloys than that in the lower Fe alloys.