Effects of Solidification Thermal Variables on the Microstructure and Hardness of the Silicon Aluminum Bronze Alloy CuAl<sub>6</sub>Si<sub>2</sub>
Paulo Henrique Tedardi do Nascimento,
Vinicius Torres dos Santos,
Ricardo de Luca,
Marcio Rodrigues da Silva,
Flavia Goncalves Lobo,
Rogerio Teram,
Mauricio Silva Nascimento,
Ronaldo Camara Cozza,
Antonio Augusto Couto,
Givanildo Alves dos Santos,
Anibal de Andrade Mendes Filho
Affiliations
Paulo Henrique Tedardi do Nascimento
Termomecanica São Paulo S.A., São Bernardo do Campo 09612-000, Brazil
Vinicius Torres dos Santos
Termomecanica São Paulo S.A., São Bernardo do Campo 09612-000, Brazil
Ricardo de Luca
Termomecanica São Paulo S.A., São Bernardo do Campo 09612-000, Brazil
Marcio Rodrigues da Silva
Termomecanica São Paulo S.A., São Bernardo do Campo 09612-000, Brazil
Flavia Goncalves Lobo
Termomecanica São Paulo S.A., São Bernardo do Campo 09612-000, Brazil
Rogerio Teram
Department of Mechanics, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo, São Paulo 01109-010, Brazil
Mauricio Silva Nascimento
Department of Mechanics, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo, São Paulo 01109-010, Brazil
Ronaldo Camara Cozza
CEETEPS—State Center of Technological Education “Paula Souza”, Department of Mechanical Manufacturing, Av. Antônia Rosa Fioravante 804, Mauá 09390-120, Brazil
Antonio Augusto Couto
Department of Engineering, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, UPM, São Paulo 01302-907, Brazil
Givanildo Alves dos Santos
Department of Mechanics, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo, São Paulo 01109-010, Brazil
Anibal de Andrade Mendes Filho
Department of Engineering, Modeling and Applied Social Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André 09210-580, Brazil
The properties of the final product obtained by solidification directly result from the thermal variables during solidification. This study aims to analyze the influence of thermal solidification variables on the hardness, microstructure, and phases of the CuAl6Si2 alloy. The material was solidified using unidirectional solidification equipment under non-stationary heat flow conditions, where heat extraction is conducted through a water-cooled graphite base. The thermal solidification variables were extracted using a data acquisition system, and temperature was monitored at six different positions, with cooling rates ranging from 217 to 3 °C/min from the nearest to the farthest position from the heat extraction point. An optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to verify the fusion structure and determine the volumetric fraction of the formed phases. The XRD results showed the presence of β phases, α phases, and possible Fe3Si2 and Fe5Si3 intermetallics with different morphologies and volumetric fractions. Positions with lower cooling rates showed an increased volume fraction of the α phase and possible intermetallics compared to positions with faster cooling. High cooling rates increased the Brinell hardness of the alloy due to the refined and equiaxed β metastable phase, varying from 143 HB to 126 HB for the highest and lowest rates, respectively.
