Modification of Aluminium-Silicon Near-Eutectic Alloy with Use of Electrolysis of Sodium Salt

Abstract

The present work discusses results of preliminary tests concerning the technology of continuous dosage of sodium to a metallic bath from the aspect of modification of EN AC-44200 alloy, through the use of a multiple compound (salt) of sodium. The technology consists in continuous electrolysis of sodium salts occurring directly in a crucible with liquid alloy. As a measure of the degree of alloy modification over the course of testing, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS or Rm) and analysis of microstructure are taken, which confirm the obtained effects of the modification on the investigated alloy. Assurance of stable parameters during the process of continuous modification with sodium, taking into consideration the fact of complex physical-chemical phenomena, requires additional tests aimed at their optimization and determination of a possibility of implementation of such technology in metallurgical processes.

Keywords

• Al-Si alloys
• electrolysis
• tensile strength
• microstructure