Microstructure, tensile strength and wear behaviour of Al–Sc alloy

A systematic study on the behaviour of commercial pure Al with the addition of scandium (Sc) was carried out and the effects of Sc addition on tensile and wear behaviour were investigated. The Sc addition up to 0.4 wt.% did not show any grain refinement and at higher addition levels, remarkable grain refinement due to the presence of Al 3Sc precipitates during solidification was observed. The SEM, TEM studies showed a uniform distribution of Al 3Sc intermetallics in Al matrix. Sc addition to Al exhibited excellent results of grain refinement as compared to the addition of TiBAl master alloy. A continuous increase in mechanical properties as well as wear resistance behaviour was noticed with the increase of Sc content. Remarkable improvement was observed after homogenization of Sc added Al alloys.