Influence of Different Fe Levels on Mechanical Properties of AlSi7Mg0.3 Aluminum Casting Alloys

Abstract

Depending on the specific alloy composition and iron content, iron can have various effects on aluminum alloys. This work examines the influence of varying Fe content on the Charpy impact, tensile, and hardness properties of cast AlSi7Mg0.3 alloy (356). The samples contained 0.11, 0.25, 0.42, and 0.65 wt% Fe levels. The instrumented Charpy V-notch impact tests, conducted according to the ISO EN 148-3 standard, provided data on maximum impact force, crack initiation, crack propagation, and total Charpy impact resistances. Tensile tests, performed according to EN ISO 6892-1 standard, evaluated the yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation (%ε) values. Hardness and density measurements were also taken. Additionally, the fracture surfaces of Charpy V-notch and tensile test samples underwent optical macroscopic and scanning electron microscopic analysis to understand the effects of Fe content. The study revealed that as the Fe content in AlSi7Mg0.3 alloy increases, the tensile properties and Charpy impact resistances decrease.