Solidification Processing of Al-Ce Alloys for High-Temperature Applications

Abstract

The current study of Al alloys aims to improve their high-temperature mechanical properties by forming intermetallic precipitates with high-temperature stability. Using rare earth elements (RE) to achieve this goal increases the production cost and, hence, minimizes the economic advantage of the conventional casting processes. Therefore, alternative additives/methods with reasonable costs become mandatory. Al-Ce alloys were found to be a promising group of alloys. Cerium is the most economically abundant RE that can be added to aluminum alloys. The main intermetallic phase, i.e., Al11Ce3, is characterized by its high-temperature stability compared to other Al-based intermetallic compounds. Several research works modified the morphology of the stable Al11Ce3 phase to enhance the high-temperature properties of Al-Ce alloys. These methods were heat treatment, chemical modification, and solidification processing. This review article summarizes the “few” available research works, that studied the influence of solidification processing on the microstructure features of Al-Ce alloys. Among the solidification processing techniques available, special attention was given to microstructure processing via ultrasonic treatment and the corresponding effects on mechanical properties and electrochemical behavior. Future research points were also proposed.

Keywords

• Al-Ce alloys
• solidification processing
• microstructure
• mechanical properties
• corrosion