The Effect of Silicon Content on the Graded Microstructure of Centrifugally Cast Al-Si Alloys

In this study, the effect of silicon content on the graded microstructure of Al-Si alloys fabricated by centrifugal casting method was investigated. For this purpose, two cylinders with a chemical composition of Al-11.9wt.% Si (hypoeutectic alloy) and Al-20wt.% Si (hypereutectic alloy) were cast through vertical centrifugal casting method. Then the microstructure and hardness of radial sections of the cast cylinders were studied using optical/scanning electron microscopes and standard Brinell test method, respectively. According to the results, two hypo and hypereutectic Al-Si cylinders illustrate two different patterns of functionally graded microstructure thus hardness along the radial direction. In hypoeutectic cylinder, due to the segregation of the heavy and soft α-Al phase in centrifugal force direction, the outer and inner layers show hypoeutectic and eutectic microstructures, respectively. While in the hypereutectic cylinder due to the segregation of the light and hard primary Si particles in the centripetal direction, the outer and inner layers contain eutectic and hypereutectic microstructures, respectively. As a result of these continuous and gradual microstructural changes in radial direction of the cylinders; firstly: the hardness of all radial sections in hypereutectic cylinder is about 10 Brinell more than the hypoeutectic one; secondly: the inner layer of hypoeutectic and outer layer of hypereutectic cylinders both with full eutectic microstructure show similar hardness; thirdly: the hardness of both cylinders moderately increase from outer periphery towards the inner periphery of the cylinders.