The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content

The large-sized needlelike iron-rich phases are detrimental to the grading utilization of the recycled Al alloys. In this paper, an effective method is put forward for the microstructural modification of an iron-containing Al–Cu alloy through simultaneously adding Er and applying ultrasound during s...

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Main Authors: Jinxin Cai, Li Zhang, Longfei Li, Guangxi Lu, Cong Xu, Ripeng Jiang, Yanfang Zhang, Lihong Wu, Shaokang Guan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425007859
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author Jinxin Cai
Li Zhang
Longfei Li
Guangxi Lu
Cong Xu
Ripeng Jiang
Yanfang Zhang
Lihong Wu
Shaokang Guan
author_facet Jinxin Cai
Li Zhang
Longfei Li
Guangxi Lu
Cong Xu
Ripeng Jiang
Yanfang Zhang
Lihong Wu
Shaokang Guan
author_sort Jinxin Cai
collection DOAJ
description The large-sized needlelike iron-rich phases are detrimental to the grading utilization of the recycled Al alloys. In this paper, an effective method is put forward for the microstructural modification of an iron-containing Al–Cu alloy through simultaneously adding Er and applying ultrasound during solidification. The results show that coarse α-Al grains and a considerable amount of large-sized needlelike Al3Fe phase are observed in the sample neither adding Er nor applying ultrasound, while the size and continuity of acicular Al3Fe phase gradually decrease as the Er content increases. Meanwhile, α-Al grains are refined and a small portion of acicular Al3Fe phase transforms into platelike α-Fe phase with Er addition. Applying ultrasound alone, α-Al grains are refined by 21.1 % and the average length of needlelike Al3Fe phase is reduced by 33.5 % in comparison with the conventional sample. In contrast, synergistically applying ultrasound and adding 0.3 % Er significantly promotes the large-sized needlelike Al3Fe phase to transform into small-sized lamellate α-Fe phase, with grain refinement of 40.8 % and a 60.9 % reduction in the average length of needlelike Al3Fe phase. This is primarily ascribed to that cavitation and acoustic streaming facilitate the formation of dispersive Er-rich phases, which impedes the growth of coarsening needlelike Al3Fe phase and provides more sites as well as interface conditions beneficial to the nucleation of α-Fe phase. Correspondingly, the mechanical properties of the alloy sample with ultrasound and 0.3 % Er addition exhibit a substantial improvement in comparison to the conventional sample.
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spelling doaj-art-9f0b675b15414ddf8b35e0dec33fb9722025-08-20T03:16:46ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-05-01362053206310.1016/j.jmrt.2025.03.275The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe contentJinxin Cai0Li Zhang1Longfei Li2Guangxi Lu3Cong Xu4Ripeng Jiang5Yanfang Zhang6Lihong Wu7Shaokang Guan8School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China; Corresponding author. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Precision Manufacturing for Extreme Service Performance, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, ChinaSanying Precision Instruments Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300399, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Alloys, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China; Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold (Ministry of Education), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, ChinaThe large-sized needlelike iron-rich phases are detrimental to the grading utilization of the recycled Al alloys. In this paper, an effective method is put forward for the microstructural modification of an iron-containing Al–Cu alloy through simultaneously adding Er and applying ultrasound during solidification. The results show that coarse α-Al grains and a considerable amount of large-sized needlelike Al3Fe phase are observed in the sample neither adding Er nor applying ultrasound, while the size and continuity of acicular Al3Fe phase gradually decrease as the Er content increases. Meanwhile, α-Al grains are refined and a small portion of acicular Al3Fe phase transforms into platelike α-Fe phase with Er addition. Applying ultrasound alone, α-Al grains are refined by 21.1 % and the average length of needlelike Al3Fe phase is reduced by 33.5 % in comparison with the conventional sample. In contrast, synergistically applying ultrasound and adding 0.3 % Er significantly promotes the large-sized needlelike Al3Fe phase to transform into small-sized lamellate α-Fe phase, with grain refinement of 40.8 % and a 60.9 % reduction in the average length of needlelike Al3Fe phase. This is primarily ascribed to that cavitation and acoustic streaming facilitate the formation of dispersive Er-rich phases, which impedes the growth of coarsening needlelike Al3Fe phase and provides more sites as well as interface conditions beneficial to the nucleation of α-Fe phase. Correspondingly, the mechanical properties of the alloy sample with ultrasound and 0.3 % Er addition exhibit a substantial improvement in comparison to the conventional sample.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425007859UltrasoundEr additionIron-containing Al–Cu alloyFe-rich phasesSolidification
spellingShingle Jinxin Cai
Li Zhang
Longfei Li
Guangxi Lu
Cong Xu
Ripeng Jiang
Yanfang Zhang
Lihong Wu
Shaokang Guan
The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Ultrasound
Er addition
Iron-containing Al–Cu alloy
Fe-rich phases
Solidification
title The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content
title_full The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content
title_fullStr The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content
title_full_unstemmed The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content
title_short The synergistic effect of ultrasound and Er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al–Cu alloy with high Fe content
title_sort synergistic effect of ultrasound and er on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an al cu alloy with high fe content
topic Ultrasound
Er addition
Iron-containing Al–Cu alloy
Fe-rich phases
Solidification
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425007859
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