Solidification microstructure manipulation mechanism of hypoeutectic and hypereutectic Al–Si alloys controlled by trace in-situ nano-Fe2B and nano-Fe3Si

In aluminum alloys, the most often utilized cast Al–Si alloy system, the microstructure often needs to be improved by modification and inoculation treatment. This study comprehensively examines the impact of nanocrystals produced by Fe–B–Si amorphous alloys on the solidification behavior and microstructure of hypoeutectic Al–Si7 alloy and hypereutectic Al–Si17 alloy. The nucleation temperature of α-Al is increased and the nucleation of α-Al is easier as well as crystallization platform becomes shorter. For primary Si, the nucleation temperature is decreased and the nucleation is inhibited. The eutectic transformation is promoted and the reaction time is shortened. For α-Al, in situ nano-Fe2B can act as its heterogeneous nucleation sites and promote its nucleation. Meanwhile, the growth of α-Al dendrites is constrained by nearby grains and nanocrystals that do not participate in nucleation, therefore refining the dendrites. Furthermore, nano-Fe2B promotes the eutectic transformation and refines the eutectic microstructure. At the same time, the microstructure of the eutectic groups is refined and the distribution is more dispersed due to the confinement of finer adjacent grains and the hindrance of nanocrystals that do not participate in nucleation.