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Effect of Rare Earth Metals (Ce and La) Addition on the Performance of Al-Si-Cu-Mg Cast Alloys

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Abstract

The present research work aimed at evaluating the effect of Ce and La rare earth (RE) additions on the formation of intermetallics in an Al-8.0Si-2.4Cu-0.4Mg-0.4Fe-0.6Mn-0.15Ti alloy (coded D0). These alloys were solidified at a rate of ~0.7°C/s. Microstructural analyses revealed the presence of two types of RE-containing intermetallic phases: (i) a gray phase with a fixed composition of Al21Ti2RE(Ce/La) and (ii) a white RE-containing intermetallic phase stemming from the reaction of the RE (Ce/La) with Si, Fe, and Cu. The present study aimed as well at studying the influence of the additions of Ce and La elements (0–1.0%) on the high-temperature (250 °C) tensile properties of the Al-8.0Si-2.4Cu-alloys. The results showed that T6-treated alloys, Sr-modified alloys, or those containing Ce/La exhibited UTS values comparable to the solution heat-treated, T5, and T7 alloys.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Amal Samuel for enhancing the quality of the artwork used in the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Mechanical Design and Production Department, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    M. G. Mahmoud

  2. Département de génie mécanique, École de technologie supérieure, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    Y. Zedan & V. Songmene

  3. Département des sciences appliquées, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Saguenay, Quebec, Canada

    A. M. Samuel & F. H. Samuel

  4. General Motors Materials Engineering, 823 Joslyn Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48340, USA

    H. W. Doty

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  1. M. G. Mahmoud
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  2. Y. Zedan
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Correspondence to F. H. Samuel.

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Appendix A

Appendix A

SEM Images and EDS spectra of Al-15% Ce and Al-15% La master alloys

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Mahmoud, M.G., Zedan, Y., Samuel, A.M. et al. Effect of Rare Earth Metals (Ce and La) Addition on the Performance of Al-Si-Cu-Mg Cast Alloys. Inter Metalcast 16, 1164–1190 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40962-021-00669-6

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