Beneficial Utilization of Electromagnetic Stirring Technology in Al-Ce Alloys

The content of Ce plays an important role in balancing the strength and plasticity of Al-Ce alloys, because it seriously affects the morphology and distribution of Ce-rich phase. Electromagnetic stirring (EMS) is an effective process for controlling Ce-rich phase. The effects of EMS on Ce-rich phase in hypoeutectic, eutectic and hypereutectic Al-Ce alloys were mainly studied. The results show that eutectic Al 11 Ce 3 phase transits from lamellar-like to fibrous-like in Al-8Ce alloy and Al-12Ce alloy after EMS. The refinement of the lamellar spacings and eutectic Al 11 Ce 3 fibres is insignificant, and the effect of load transfer strengthening and grain refining strengthening is unsatisfactory. Coarser primary Al 11 Ce 3 phase is broken and eutectic Al 11 Ce 3 phase is refined and spheroidized in Al-14Ce alloy after EMS. The lamellar spacing and eutectic Al 11 Ce 3 fibre size greatly decrease in Al-14Ce alloy, from 2.14 μm to 1.28 μm and 0.94 μm to 0.43 μm, respectively. The load transfer strengthening and fine grain strengthening are enhanced. The tensile strength increases from 116.8 MPa to 184.6 MPa, the yield strength increases from 74.5 MPa to 107.6 MPa, and the elongation increases from 1.4% to 7.1%. This reflects that EMS play a more beneficial role in Al-14Ce alloy.