New aluminium-silicon-copper microalloyed alloys

The objective of this project has been the development of new microalloyed aluminium-silicon-copper alloys, in order to obtain materials with improved properties through the application of heat treatments. Initially a study of the state of the art was carried out, in order to obtain the previous specific knowledge related to the subject of the project. Thus, an exhaustive search has been carried out on our base material, the AlSi9Cu3 alloy, and on the influence of the different elements that can be added to the heat treatments and their general behavior. Within this section, the results of the work we have used as a reference have been checked, making the necessary hardness tests. Small amounts, in varying proportions, of Zr and Cr have been added to the base material as grain refineries, and Mg and Zn for the improvement of heat treatment properties. These elements have been added in the form of master alloys. The resulting casts have subsequently suffered a T6 heat treatment, a 6 hours solution heat treatment at 515 ° C followed by a water quench. Then, through 10 different time intervals (one for each piece of each wash) the different ages of different casts have been made.