Characteristics of two Al based functionally gradient

composites reinforced by primary Si particles and Si/

in situ Mg2Si particles in centrifugal casting

ZHAI Yan-bo(翟彦博), LIU Chang-ming(刘昌明), WANG Kai(王 开), ZOU Mao-hua(邹茂华), XIE Yong(谢 勇)
College of Material Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
Received 26 December 2008; accepted 4 May 2009

Abstract: Two kinds of Al based functionally gradient composite tubes reinforced by primary Si particles alone and primary Si/ in
situ Mg2Si particles jointly were successfully prepared by centrifugal casting, and their structural and mechanical characters were
compared. It is found that the composite reinforced with primary Si particles takes a characteristic of particles distribution both in the
inner and outer layers. However, composite reinforced with primary Si/Mg2Si particles jointly takes a characteristic of particles
distribution only in the inner layer and shows a sudden change of particles distribution across the section of inner and outer layers.
The hardness and wear resistance of Al-19Si-5Mg tube in the inner layer are greatly higher than that in the other layers of
Al-19Si-5Mg tube and Al-19Si tube. Theoretical analysis reveals that the existence of Mg2Si particles is the key factor to form this
sudden change of gradient distribution of two kinds of particles. Because Mg2Si particles with a lower density have a higher
centripetal moving velocity than primary Si particles, in a field of centrifugal force, they would collide with primary Si particles and
then impel the later to move together forward to the inner layer of the tube.
Key words: centrifugal casting; functionally gradient composites; in situ primary Si particles; in situ Mg2Si particles

particles reinforced Al based functionally gradient

1 Introduction composites were paid more and more attention by
researchers all over the world[4−6]. TOMIDA et al[7]
The concept of functionally gradient material (FGM) prepared primary Si particle reinforced surface
was firstly reported in 1980s by researchers of Japan[1]. functionally gradient composites by laser surface
Compared with traditional materials, the main merits of remelting process. NIKANOROV et al[8] prepared
the functionally gradient composites are that their hyper-eutectic Al-Si functionally gradient composites by
performance and microstructure may be designed and remelting and fast cooling process. PUT et al[9] prepared
controlled. Thus, the intensity, toughness, rigidity, optics, hyper-eutectic Al-Si functionally gradient composites by
electricity and thermodynamics characteristics can be electrophoretic deposition process. TAN[10−11]
artificially designed and controlled to satisfy different prepared a single kind of in situ primary Si particles to
application situations[2]. Common methods used to reinforce Al based functionally gradient composites
prepare functionally gradient composites are built-up using centrifugal casting process. SONG et al[12]
welding, laser melting, double-current casting, gas phase prepared Al-Si functionally gradient composites by
deposition, hot spraying duplicate, power metallurgy and electromagnetic separation method. ZHANG et al[13]
so on[3]. Recently, along with the unceasing progress of prepared single kind of in situ Mg2Si particles to
the hyper-eutectic Al-Si alloy crystal grain refinement reinforce Al based functionally gradient composites
research work, as well as wide applications of Al-Si using centrifugal casting process. QIN et al[14−16]
functionally gradient composites in the industries of prepared single kind of Mg2Si particles to reinforce Al
automobile, astronautics and the electronic seal domain, based functionally gradient composites using an electric
in situ primary Si particle reinforced Al based arc remelting technology. However, there were some
functionally gradient composites and in situ Mg2Si limits by introducing only the single primary Si or Mg2Si

Foundation item: Project(2008BB4177) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China
Corresponding author: ZHAI Yan-bo; Tel: +86-15909324797; E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
DOI: 10.1016/S1003-6326(09)60147-3
362 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370
as reinforced particles into functionally gradient the melt was heated-up to 840 ℃ and treated for the last
composites. If the quantity of Si or Mg2Si particles is fining processing by inert gas of argon. The melt was
higher, not only the castability of an alloy is weakened, kept at 840 ℃ for pouring.
but also the primary Si or Mg2Si particles grows up 2.2.2 Casting
quickly to form coarse ones, which leads Si or Mg2Si Hot mold casting was adopted. The casting mould
particles slough off easily from matrix of the alloy under was preheated to 220−250 ℃, and the centrifugal
a stress when in using[17]. On the other hand, if the rotational speed was controlled at 2 000 r/min. The mass
quantity of Si or Mg2Si particles is lower, a perfect effect of poured liquid was controlled to about 2.5 kg by a
of reinforcement can not be achieved. In order to quantitative casting ladle. The dimension of the tube
overcome the shortages mentioned above, Mg element obtained was 109 mm in external diameter, 15 mm in
can be added into an Al-Si alloy and its quantity may be wall thickness and 190 mm in length. Fig.1 shows its
adjusted to form both Mg2Si and primary Si particles to shape and dimensions.
reinforce composites[18]. In this work, two kinds of
Al-Si alloys or composites without Mg and with partial
Mg were prepared using centrifugal casting process, and
the characteristics of structures and mechanical
properties of two alloys or composites in centrifugal
casting were compared.
In centrifugal casting technology, density difference
between particles and a fused mass of master alloy were
used to prepare in situ primary Si or Mg2Si particles
reinforced Al based functionally gradient function Fig.1 Composites material tubes obtained by centrifugal
composites under a centripetal force[19]. This force casting
impels the particles moving toward the core location to
form a reinforced region in inner layer of the tube. 2.3 Structure observation and phase analysis
Because the primary Si particles have a higher 2.3.1 Structure observation
micro-hardness, 12 308 MPa for primary Si particle and Along the radial direction in the wall of the tube,
4 410 MPa for Mg2Si[17], and excellent thermal stability, samples with 10 mm width were taken in the middle of
the reinforced layers possess a higher hardness, an the tubular pieces, then sanded and polished for structure
excellent wear resistance and a thermal stability. This observation. A digital photographic camera and a
kind of functionally gradient composites is hopefully metallography light microscope were introduced to carry
applied as engine cylinder liner, piston or electronic seal out.
material[5]. 2.3.2 Phase analysis
The Al-19Si alloy is a typical Al alloy, so the phase
2 Experimental analysis is mainly aiming at the Al-19Si-5Mg alloy. XRD
(X-ray Diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electron
2.1 Materials Microscopy) and EDS (Energy Dispersive
Commercial Zl104 alloy, AZ91D alloy and Al-29Si Spectrometer) methods were adopted.
high Si alloy were taken as raw materials. Al-19Si alloy
and Al-19Si-5Mg alloy were respectively smelted using 2.4 Rockwell hardness and friction testing
these raw materials. 2.4.1 Rockwell hardness testing
TIME TH300 Rockwell hardness apparatus (1.587
2.2 Experimental process mm steel ball, 100 kg) was adopted to test HRB hardness.
2.2.1 Smelting Testing sites were located in inner layer，intermediate
Same smelting process was adopted to make two layer and outer layer respectively, as shown in Fig.2.
different ingredient alloys. Firstly, 20 kg prepared raw 2.4.2 Friction testing
material was smelted at 750 ℃ in an electrical resistance Friction test was taken on a self-refiting friction
furnace. Secondly, hexachloroethane of 0.6% (mass testing machine. The friction disk was a carborundum
fraction) of total quantity of the melt was added into the grinding head with a diameter of 8 mm. In the friction
melt for the first fining processing. Thirdly, the melt was test, the rubbing time was 10 min and the total friction
heated up to 820 ℃ and then, PM (powder metallurgy) force was 200 N (the pressure was 4×106 Pa). The wear
modificator of 1.6% (mass fraction) was pressed into the mass loss of a specimen was weighed by 0.1 mg
melt using a plunger to carry on modification. Finally, precision analytical balance and then, it was converted to
 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370 363
inner layer (0−5 mm), intermediate layer (5−11 mm) and
outer layer (11−15 mm), respectively. There are
approximate phase compositions of Al, Si and Mg2Si in
the three layers. Mg leads to the emergence of Mg2Si
phase as a certain amount of Mg is added into the Al-Si
alloy. The density of Mg2Si is 1.93 g/cm3, the density of
primary Si is 2.34 g/cm3, and the density of Al-Si alloy is
2.37 g/cm3[17]. The density of Mg2Si is smaller than that
of primary Si and Al-Si alloy.

Fig.2 Cross-section macroscopic appearances: (a) Al-19Si; (b)

Al-19Si-5Mg tubes

the volume loss according to the actual density of debris

from a specimen rubbed.

3 Results

3.1 Macroscopic appearance characteristics of

sections of tubes
Fig.2 shows the macroscopic appearances of
sections of Al-19Si and Al-19Si-5Mg tubes which were Fig.3 XRD patterns of Al-19Si-5Mg tube
photoed by a digital photographic camera. According to
the macroscopic appearance characteristics of sections, Fig.4 shows the SEM morphologies of the
the wall of tubes is divided into three layers as shown in reinforcement layer and un-reinforcement layer of
Fig.2, the inner layer, which is a region of 0−5 mm apart Al-19Si-5Mg tube. Tables 1 and 2 show the results of
from the inwall, the intermediate layer, which is a region energy spectrum analysis for Si, Al and Mg. Combined
of 5−11 mm apart from the inwall, and the outer layer, with the results of XRD, SEM and EDS analyses,
which is a region of 11−15 mm apart from the inwall. It primary Si, eutectic Si, primary Mg2Si, eutectic Mg2Si
is seen from Fig.2(a) that the particles mainly distribute and α can be defined. As shown in Fig.4(a), points 1, 2, 3
in the inner layer and the outer layer, and also a few and 4 mark the primary Mg2Si, primary Si, α and eutectic
particles assemble in the intermediate layer. Therefore, it Si, respectively. As shown in Fig.4(b), points 1, 2 and 3
is concluded that after the centrifugal cast forming, the mark the α, eutectic Si and eutectic Mg2Si, respectively.
Al-19Si alloy forms the gradual functionally gradient
composites tube in which both the inner layer and outer 3.3 Microstructure of sections
layer in its radial cross section are reinforced with Fig.5 shows the microstructures of an Al-19Si tube
particles. at different locations in radial section. Fig.5(a), (b), (c),
It can be seen from Fig.2(b) that after centrifugal
cast forming, reinforcement particles are mostly Table 1 EDS results in Fig.4(a) (mole fraction, %)
completely gathered in the inner layer with a thickness of Area C O Mg Al Si Total
about 5 mm, only an 0.5 mm or so thickness region of 1 5.62 9.02 52.86 1.15 31.36 100.00
enhancement particles exist in the most outer layer of the
2 1.28 98.72 100.00
tube. There is an obvious borderline between the inner
layer and the intermediate layer, a new concept of 3 1.49 0.58 96.65 1.28 100.00
“sudden change” functionally gradient composites is 4 9.49 4.11 86.40 100.00
adopted in this research.
Through the contrast and analyzing above, it is Table 2 EDS results in Fig.4(b) (mole fraction, %)
concluded that Mg is a key factor of forming Al-Si
Area C O Mg Al Si Total
sudden change functionally gradient composites in the
same smelting and centrifugal casting process. 1 1.24 6.29 86.01 6.46 100.00
2 1.47 2.83 35.13 60.57 100.00
3.2 Results of phase analysis
3 0.80 53.72 13.50 31.99 100.00
Fig.3 shows XRD patterns of Al-19Si-5Mg tube at
364 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370

Fig.4 SEM images of Si, Mg2Si and EDS points of Al-19Si-5Mg tube: (a) Primary Si, Mg2Si and Al; (b) Eutectic Si, Mg2Si and Al

Fig.5 SEM images of Al-19Si tube in Fig.2(a): (a) 1−3 mm; (b) 3−5 mm; (c) 5−8 mm; (d) 8−10 mm; (e) 10−14 mm; (f) 14−15 mm
 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370 365
(d), (e) and (f) respectively present microstructures at optical microscope. The tiny black network structure is
locations of 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 14 mm apart from the named eutectic Mg2Si. From Fig.5 and Fig.6, the
inwall of the tube as shown in Fig.2(a). following microstructure differences between Al-19Si
Fig.6 shows the microstructures of an Al-19Si-5Mg tube and Al-19Si-5Mg tube can be found.
tube at different locations in radial section. Fig.6(a), (b), 1) Types and quantities of reinforcement particles
(c), (d), (e) and (f) respectively present microstructures at As shown in Fig.5 and Fig.6, there is only primary
locations of 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, and 14 mm apart from the Si particle as reinforcement phase in the Al-19Si tube,
inwall of the tube as shown in Fig.2(b). but primary Si and Mg2Si particles coexist in the
According to the results of XRD, SEM, and EDS Al-19Si-5Mg tube. At the same time, because Si element
and microstructure characteristics of hyper-eutectic Al-Si is consumed to form Mg2Si by adding Mg into the melt,
alloy[17, 20−21], it can be determined that in Fig.6, the the quantity of primary Si particles in Al-19Si-5Mg
massive black lumps are primary Mg2Si particles and the tube is lower than that in the Al-19Si tube, as shown in
tiny black network structure is eutectic Mg2Si phase[17, Fig.8 and Fig.9 that are obtained by area estimating.
22−23], as shown in Fig.7. Fig.7 shows an enlarged However, the consumed Mg forms the massive tiny
network microstructure of Mg2Si in eutectics under an black Mg2Si particles (e.g. Figs.6(a)−(c) and (f) ) and a

Fig.6 SEM images of Al-19Si-5Mg tube in Fig.2(b): (a) 1−3 mm; (b) 3−5 mm; (c) 5−8 mm; (d) 8−10 mm; (e) 10−14 mm; (f) 14−15
mm)
366 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370
gradually (e.g. Fig.5(c)). In the intermediate layer
(Figs.5(d) and (e)), the volume fraction of the particles is
the lowest, and they distribute the form of
non-aggregation. In the outer layer (Fig.5(f)), a mass of
particles appear again. The quantitative analysis result of
primary Si particles distribution in Fig.8 shows that
primary Si particles have not really been aggregated in
the inwall of the tube. Different from Fig.5, in Fig.6 the
inner layer (Figs.6(a)−(c)) gathers a vast gray primary Si
and black Mg2Si particles. In the intermediate layer
(Figs.6(d) and (e)), nearly no particles appear and
microstructure mainly consists of Al-Si eutectic,
dendritic α phase and a few black eutectic Mg2Si. In the
Fig.7 SEM image of network microstructures in intermediate outer layer (Fig.6(f)), a few primary Si and Mg2Si
layer of Al-19Si-5Mg tube particles appear again, but the size of the particles is
smaller than that in the inner layer. Contrasting Fig.5(f)
and Fig.6(f), the volume of particles in Al-19Si-5Mg is
much smaller than that in Al-19Si tube in the same outer
layer. This is because the velocity of primary Si particles
in Al-19Si tube is slower than that of coagulation, a
number of primary Si particles is retained in the outer
layer. But as to Al-19Si-5Mg tube, the multiple primary
particles are shifted before the freezing face arrives in the
same mould cooling condition with Al-19Si tube, so only
a few particles remain. The quantitative analysis results
of primary Si and Mg2Si particles distribution are shown
in Fig.9, which shows the sudden changes of
distributions of primary Si and Mg2Si particles in the
direction of the thickness of the tube.
Fig.8 Primary Si particles distribution curve in Al-19Si tube 3) Appearances of particles
It can be seen in Fig.5 that primary Si particles in
the Al-19Si tube are uniform and tiny, and the size of
particles is 30−50 μm. Different from Fig.5, the particles
in the inner layer of Al-19Si-5Mg tube aggregate
seriously in Fig.6. Several primary Si particles stick up
together and primary Mg2Si particle is wrapped up by
primary Si particles to form a big single mix particle, as
shown in Figs.6(a)−(c). In the most outer layer (Fig.6(f)),
particles are tiny and even, and the aggregation of
particles does not occur. According to a staff guage, the
size of primary Si particles in the inner layer is 80−120
μm and is about 30 μm in the outer layer. As for Mg2Si
particles, the size is 30−40 μm in the inner layer and is
about 30 μm in the outer layer.
Fig.9 Primary Si and Mg2Si particles distribution curve in
cross-section of Al-19Si-5Mg tube 3.4 Results of hardness and friction tests
Fig.10 and Fig.11 show the results of hardness and
few network eutectic Mg2Si (e.g. Fig.9 and Fig.4(b)). friction tests of Al-19Si tube and Al-19Si-5Mg tube,
2) Particles gathering characteristic respectively. It can be seen from these two figures, that,
In Fig.5, the primary Si particles present a gradual 1) in the inner layer of Al-19Si-5Mg tube, the hardness is
gradient distribution tendency. In the inner layer (Figs.5(a) the highest and the volume loss is the lowest, but for
and (b)), primary Si particles distribute evenly, and take Al-19Si tube, the highest hardness and the lowest volume
up a higher volume fraction. Along with the wall loss appear in the outer layer, and 2) in the tube of
thickness increasing, the quantity of particles reduces Al-19Si-5Mg, the hardness at the inner layer is obviously
 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370 367
intermediate layer.

4 Particles assembling mechanism in

centrifugal force field

4.1 Stress and movement velocity relationship of

primary Si and Mg2Si particles in centrifugal
force field
A particle receives a centrifugal force Fc, a
centrifugal floatage Fr, and a viscous resistance Fd in a
centrifugal force field, as shown in Fig.12, and,
Fc=mprω2 (1)
Fig.10 Rockwell hardness of three layers of two tubes Fd=3πηdpvp (2)
2
Fr=mLrω (3)
So the resultant force of the particles received is
F=Fr−Fc−Fd=mLrω2−mprω2−3πηdpvp (4)

Fig.11 Wearing capacity of three layers of two tubes

greater than that in the intermediate layer and the outer

layer; the volume loss at the inner layer is about one third
smaller than that in the intermediate layer and the outer Fig.12 Stress of particles along radial direction
layer; however, in the tube of Al-19Si, there are no great
differences of hardness and volume loss between three where F is the resultant force of the particles received; Fc
layers. is the centrifugal force of the particles received; Fd is the
As to the Al-19Si tube, 11%−13% (volume fraction) viscous resistance of the particles received among
of primary Si reinforcement particles are distributed in moving; Fv is the centrifugal floatage of the particles
the inner layer and outer layer, therefore, there are received; mp is the quality of particles; mL is the quality
relatively higher hardness and wear resistance in the of fused mass exhausted by particles; r is centrifugal
inner layer and outer layer than that in the intermediate radius; ω is the revolution angular velocity; dp is the
layer. As to the outer layer, due to the effect of splat diameter of particles; vp is the velocity of the particles
cooling of the mould, the structure is thinner and more and η is the viscosity coefficient of the particles.
compact than that in the inner layer, so the hardness and It can be seen from Eq.(4) that the motion model of
wear resisting property are better than those in the inner the particles in the centrifugal fields is very complex. In
layer. As to Al-19Si-5Mg tube, 30%−38% reinforcement order to simplify the model and only analyse the stress of
particles are distributed in the inner layer, so the particles, we may presume that the initial velocity of
reinforcement effect of two kinds of particles occupies a particles is zero, in other words, only the incipient stage
dominant position in the process of hardness and friction of forming the in situ particles is considered. And thus
tests and it leads the inner layer to hold the highest Eq.(4) is changed into
hardness and wear resistance. In the intermediate layer, F=Fr−Fc=mLrω2−mprω2 (5)
thick eutectics and α dentrites make the hardness and the According to Ref.[19], Eq.(5) can be simplified
wear resistance to reduce violently. In the outer layer, a again as:
spot of reinforcement particles makes the hardness and
the wear resistance a little higher than that in the F=0.01vRn2(ρ1−ρ2) (6)
368 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370
where ρ1 is the fused mass density and ρ2 is the density
of reinforcement particles.
The centripetal acceleration of reinforcement
particles, αc, can be derived as:
Fc 0.01vRn 2 ( ρ1 − ρ 2 )
αc = =
m m
0.011vRn 2 ( ρ1 − ρ 2 )
=
ρ 2v
0.011Rn 2 ( ρ1 − ρ 2 )
= (7) Fig.13 Schematic of primary Si and Mg2Si particles assembling
ρ2
in off-centering field: (a) Particles forming; (b) Mg2Si particles
In composite material slurry, the densities of colliding with primary Si particles and moving together; (c)
primary Si, Mg2Si and fused Al mass are 2.33 g/cm3, Mg2Si wrapped by primary Si particles and primary Si particles
1.93 g/cm3 and 2.37 g/cm3, respectively. Substituting adhere each other
these data into Eq.(7), the centripetal accelerations of
primary Si and Mg2Si particles can be obtained as: so quickly that there is no enough time for particles to
For primary Si particle move and they are retained at the outer layer, as shown in
0.011Rn 2 × 0.04 Fig.5(f) and Fig.6(f).
α1 = = 1.8 × 10 −4 Rn 2 (8)
2.33 The second stage is the moving of two kinds of
For Mg2Si particles particles toward the inner layer, as shown in Figs.13(b),
14(a)−(b). When the melt in the most outer layer freezes,
0.011Rn 2 × 0.04
α2 = = 25 × 10 −4 Rn 2 (9) it releases a massive crystallization latent heat that
1.93
causes the melt in the intermediate layer and inner layer
In an identical centrifugal radius, the ratio of
to keep a liquid state. Under this condition, primary Si
centripetal acceleration (n) of Mg2Si and primary Si
and Mg2Si particles, whose densities are smaller than
particles is
that of the melt, start to move toward the inner layer
a2 25 × 10 −4 Rn 2 under an effect of the centrifugal force. Because the
n= = ≈ 13.9 (10) centripetal acceleration of Mg2Si particle is 13.9 times
a1 1.8 × 10 −4 Rn 2
that of primary crystal Si, the centripetal velocity of
As the initial velocity is zero, the relationship Mg2Si particle is higher than that of primary Si particle
between acceleration and speed can be given as: by far. As massive tiny Mg2Si particles move toward the
inner layer, they collide with primary Si particles which
v=at (11)
move slower relatively, as shown in Fig.13(b) and
From Eqs.(10) and (11), it may be inferred that, at Fig.14(a). After collision, the Mg2Si particles impel the
an identical spot of centrifugal casting mould, the primary Si particles moving together at a higher speed,
centripetal moving velocity of Mg2Si particle is 13.9 as shown in Fig.6(c) and 14(b). As there is no effect of
times that of the primary Si particle. impelling of the Mg2Si particles, the primary Si particles
with a slower moving velocity, remained in the
4.2 Assembling mechanism of primary Si and Mg2Si intermediate layer and form a microstructure
particles in centrifugal stress field characteristic as shown in Fig.5.
Through analyzing stress and velocity relationship The third stage is that primary Si particles adhere
of primary Si and Mg2si particles, it is found that Mg2Si together and some of Mg2Si particles are wrapped up by
particles are much easier to move toward the inner layer the primary Si particles, as shown in Fig.13(c) and
than primary Si in the same condition, because its Fig.14(c). When several Mg2Si particles impel a primary
centripetal moving velocity is 13.9 times that of primary crystal Si particle together moving to the inner layer,
Si. Considering microstructures characteristic of Al-19Si they still have a higher velocity. And now, if in front of
and Al-19Si-5Mg tubes shown in Figs.5 and 6, the the Mg2Si particles, there is a primary Si particle or a
assembling model of two kinds of particles can be primary Si particle mixing with Mg2Si particles moving
established as shown in Fig.13. with a slower movement velocity, these two groups
The first stage of the model is the particles would collide and this collision results in a Mg2Si
formation in outer layer, as shown in Fig.13(a). After particle to be wrapped by primary Si particles or several
melt is poured into a casting mould, for the effect of primary Si particles be adhered together, as shown
chilling of metal mould on the melt, the melt that in Figs.6(a)−(c) and Fig.14(c). This kind of mixed
contacts with the surface of cavity of the mould freezes movement and the adhesion model causes the primary Si
 ZHAI Yan-bo, et al/Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 20(2010) 361−370 369
casting process. It is demonstrated by XRD analysis that
the reinforcement particles in Al-19Si tube are single
kind of primary Si particles and are primary Si particles
mixing with Mg2Si particles in Al-19Si-5Mg tube.
2) Macroscopic appearance of two kinds of tubes
reveals that, the Al-19Si tube takes on gradual gradient
characteristic and primary Si particles mainly distribute
both in the inner layer and outer layer; but for the
Al-19Si-5Mg tube, reinforcement particles of primary Si
particles and Mg2Si particles distribute only in the inner
layer and take on a sudden change gradient
characteristic.
3) Microstructure appearance of two kinds of tubes
reveals that, particles in the Al-19Si tube reinforced by
primary Si particles alone are even and tiny; but in
Al-19Si-5Mg tube reinforced by both primary Si
particles and Mg2Si particles, they are wrapped up or
adhere together to cause an increase of primary Si
particles size obviously.
4) The tube of Al-19Si-5Mg possesses a higher
hardness and wear resistance than the tube of Al-19Si in
the inner layer. As to Al-19Si tube, a relatively high
hardness and wear resistance appear in the outer layer;
however, as to Al-19Si-5Mg tube, the highest hardness
and wear resistance appear in the inner layer. Hardness
and wear resistance of Al-19Si-5Mg tube in the inner
layer are greatly higher than those in the other layers of
Al-19Si-5Mg tube and Al-19Si tube.
5) The assembling mechanism analyzing reveals
that the Mg2Si particle is a key aspect of forming the
sudden change functionally gradient composites tubes. In
a centrifugal force field, the centripetal accelerations of
Mg2Si particles with smaller density is 13.9 times that of
primary Si particles, so its centripetal movement velocity
is higher than that of primary Si particles by far. During
moving toward the center, massive tiny Mg2Si particles
collide and adhere with primary Si particles and then,
Fig.14 Process of Mg2Si particles colliding, adhering with Mg2Si particles impel primary Si particles moving
primary Si together and a sudden change functionally gradient
composite reinforced by two kinds of in situ particles is
particle in the inner layer in Al-19Si-5Mg tube to be formed.
much bigger than that in Al-19Si tube.
Therefore, in the process of preparing primary Si References
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