The microstructural and mechanical analysis of a ternary Al-20Si-5Fe (wt%) system with Cr Mn, and Ti additions are presented and discussed. The manufactured alloys were characterized by means of XRF, XRD, SEM, TEM as well as Vickers microhardness and compression tests. For the master alloy, the microstructural analysis revealed the presence of Al phases, eutectic silicon (SiE) and primary silicon (SiP). When adding the alloy elements, the presence of Al3FeSi2 was observed for all systems. When the addition of transition elements increased in a proportion of 1, 3 and 5 wt%, respectively, the presence of the intermetallic Al95Fe4Cr, Fe4MnSi3, Al19Fe4Mn, Ti5Si3 phases was observed. For the AlSiFe-Cr system, it was found that the acicular intermetallic Al3FeSi2 (2D) obtained by conventional solidification showed a plate-shaped structure (3D). The highest microhardness value was found for the alloys with 5 wt% of Cr (220 HV) in conventional solidification. However, for suction casting the highest microhardness was 192 HV (3 wt%). Although the microhardness decreased with the rapid solidification, the compressive plasticity of the alloy increased considerably (> 300%), being the microstructural homogeneity the main contributor to the ductility behavior. The AlSiFe Ti system showed a homogeneous dispersion of the intermetallic Al3FeSi2 and Ti5Si3 phases as the amount of Ti increased. The presence of Ti5Si3 did favor the ductility, increasing by 200%, when compared to that of the master alloy. Finally, these results demonstrated that Ti enhanced the plastic deformation, whilst Mn improved the microhardness and toughness. The addition of Cr provided a good balance between plastic deformation and toughness.
Ignacio A Figueroa joined the Institute for Materials Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2010 from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing -Rolls Royce Factory of the Future- in Sheffield (UK), where he was a Research Fellow. He obtained his PhD in Engineering Materials from the University of Sheffield (UK) in 2008. He has been awarded with level III of the National System of Researchers (the highest). Distinction in the field of “Technical Creativity or Invention”, awarded by the foundation Mexico with Values (Mexico con Valores). The 2015 National Sustainable Energy Award by the Secretary of Energy and the World Energy Council. The National Autonomous University of Mexico-UNAM recognized with the National University Distinction for Young Academics 2016 in the area of “Technological Innovation and Industrial Design”. In 2018, CONACYT awarded him with distinction of “Casos de Éxito” (Success Cases). Also in 2018, the Mexican Academy of Sciences awarded him with the 2018 RESEARCH PRIZE in “Engineering and Technology”. Finally, in 2021, at the Webinar on Materials Science, Engineering and Technology, he received the “Vebleo Scientist Award” for his contribution to the progression of his research field.
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