Microstructure and properties of twinned dendrites in directionally solidified A356 alloy

Yang Li, Shuangming Li, Luyan Yang, Hong Zhong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Twinned dendrites and regular dendrites have been respectively produced in A356 alloy by Bridgman solidification. The primary trunks of twinned dendrites grew along <110> direction and were split by a coherent (111) twin plane were characterized by electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), which is different from the <100> regular dendrites. The growth of twinned dendrites was found to have a rotation relationship around a common <110> direction. With respect to the specimens with regular dendrites, the mean tensile strength, elongation and toughness of the specimens with twinned dendrites were increased from 230 MPa to 239 MPa, 16.69–18.99%, 34.45 J/m3 to 40.88 J/m3, respectively. Meanwhile, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the specimen with twinned dendrites increase monotonically up to 2.28×10−5K−1 at temperature of 473 K. This CTE was successfully lowered than that of specimen with regular dendrites at the temperature above 323 K, and reaches the maximum decrease around 4.2% at 473 K. The fractures of two types of specimens were both originated from the Si-rich regions where dimples formed. In addition, detailed analyses on coherent twin boundary (CTB) of twinned dendrites by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) indicate that the mechanisms of twin and dislocation-CTB interactions can enhance the strength and ductility of the A356 alloy with twinned dendrites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7-19
Number of pages13
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering: A
Volume734
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 Sep 2018

Keywords

  • A356 alloy
  • Coherent twin boundary
  • Mechanical properties
  • Thermal expansion
  • Twinned dendrites

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