DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Enhanced toughness and tear resistance of thin-walled High-Pressure Die-Cast aluminum alloys through Friction stir processing

Journal Article · · Materials Letters

In this study, we investigate the toughness and resistance to tear of thin-wall high-pressure die-cast (HPDC) aluminum alloys in two different orientations following the implementation of friction stir processing (FSP). The FSP technique was applied to two different HPDC Al-Si alloys: the recyclable-grade, high iron, A380 alloy and the premium-quality, low iron, Aural-5 alloy. Our findings reveal significant tear resistance and strength enhancements for both alloys after FSP modification. Specifically, FSPed A380 alloy requires 126% higher energy to tear, and it has 49% higher tear strength than the HPDC counterpart. Similarly, the tear energy and tear strength of the Aural-5 alloy witness enhancements of 69% and 21%, respectively. In conclusion, these results highlight the potential of FSP as a viable method for augmenting the mechanical properties of HPDC aluminum alloys, thereby opening up new avenues for their utilization in diverse engineering applications for crack obstruction.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
2337587
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 2246672
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA--191954
Journal Information:
Materials Letters, Journal Name: Materials Letters Vol. 357; ISSN 0167-577X
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (14)

The characterization of porosity and its relationship with externally solidified crystal in a high-pressure die-cast AlSi10MnMg alloy via a laboratory CT technique journal March 2023
Friction stir processing of aluminum cast alloys for high performance applications journal November 2011
Transient Heat and Material Flow Modeling of Friction Stir Processing of Magnesium Alloy using Threaded Tool journal September 2011
Grain boundary wetting transition in Al–Mg alloys journal January 2017
Friction stir welding/processing of metals and alloys: A comprehensive review on microstructural evolution journal April 2021
Identification of fracture toughness parameters to understand the fracture resistance of advanced high strength sheet steels journal April 2020
Grain Boundary Wetting Transition in the Mg-Based ZEK 100 Alloy journal October 2023
Characterization of externally solidified crystals in a high-pressure die-cast AlSi10MnMg alloy and their effect on porosities and mechanical properties journal December 2021
Effect of microstructure on fatigue life and fracture morphology in an aluminum alloy journal April 2009
Effect of Friction Stir Processing on Microstructure and Tensile Properties of an Investment Cast Al-7Si-0.6Mg Alloy journal June 2010
Effect of tool design and pass strategy on defect elimination and uniform, enhanced tensile properties of friction stir processed high-pressure die-cast A380 alloy journal December 2022
Ductilizing of a brittle as-cast hypereutectic Al–Si alloy by friction stir processing journal November 2015
Aluminum alloys for lightweight automotive structures book January 2021
Microstructure-refinement–driven enhanced tensile properties of high-pressure die-cast A380 alloy through friction stir processing journal June 2022