Effects of rare earth elements addition on microstructures, tensile properties and fractography of A357 alloy

The effects of rare earth (RE) containing Ce and La elements addition on the microstructures characteristics, tensile properties and fracture behavior of A357 alloy under as-cast and T6 conditions were systematically investigated in this study. Obtained results showed that the addition of RE obviously reduced the sizes of the α-Al primary phase and eutectic silicon particles as well as SDAS value and improved the morphology of eutectic silicon particles. The optimum level of added RE content were 0.2wt%, and the aspect ratio of eutectic silicon particles of the A357 modified alloy under as-cast and T6 conditions decreased 142% and 174%, respectively, compared with the unmodified alloy. In addition, the addition of RE greatly improved the tensile properties of A357 alloy as result of the significant improvement in microstructure, especially in elongation under T6 condition. The fracture surfaces of the A357 unmodified alloy tensile samples showed a clear brittle fracture nature, and its fracture path passed through the eutectic silicon particles and displayed a transgranular fracture mode, leading to poorer ductility. The fracture path of the A357 modified alloys passed through the eutectic phase along the grain boundaries of the α-Al primary phase, and the fracture generated by dimple rupture with cracked eutectic silicon particles, and it showed an intergranular fracture mode, resulting in superior ductility.