High-temperature tests of piston hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloy AlSi18Cu3CrMn

Hypereutectic aluminum-silicon piston alloy AlSi18Cu3CrMn has been complexly modified. The use of a combination of modifiers - phosphorus, titanium, boron, and beryllium - aims at refining both the primary silicon crystals and the silicon crystals in the eutectic composition of the alloy structure. The addition of titanium and beryllium promotes the formation and the distribution of the strengthening phases during the process of dispersion ageing after quenching. The investigated alloy has been subjected to heat treatment - hardening and artificial ageing (T6). Mechanical tests at normal temperature have been conducted. To study the behavior of the AlSi18Cu3CrMn alloy at operating temperatures, tensile tests at 200°C, 250°C and 300°C have been performed. The tensile strength has been determined. The obtained results have been assessed.