Influence of Nickel Percentage on Lattice Structure and Mechanical Strength in Al-Si Alloy

Abstract

Aluminum alloys play a crucial role in various industrial applications due to their low weight and favorable mechanical properties. The specific mechanical properties of aluminum alloys can be tailored through alloying and heat treatment processes to meet the requirements of different applications. This study focused on investigating the impact of Ni addition at different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 wt. %) on the microstructure and mechanical strength of Al-Si alloy. The evaluation was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Vickers hardness (HV) tests. XRD analyses revealed that the Al-Si alloy consisted of α-Al and Si phases. Upon the addition of Ni, an intermetallic compound (IMC), Al3Ni, was identified. The presence of this IMC leads to changes in the lattice constant and interatomic spacing (dhkl). Vickers hardness (HV) measurements were performed on the samples before and after sintering. The results indicated that the highest hardness value obtained was 93 HV for the sample containing 0.1 wt.% Ni after sintering, whereas the lowest hardness value was 56 Hv for the sample without any nickel content before sintering. This increase in hardness can be attributed to the elevated temperature, which facilitated greater diffusion of nickel atoms into the aluminum lattice.