Beryllium Effects on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of A356 Aluminium Casting Alloy

Microstructure of A356 aluminum alloys cast in the permanent mold was investigated by optical microscope and image analyzer, with particular respect to the shape and size distribution of iron intermetallics known as ${\beta}-phase$ ($Al_5FeSi$). Morphologies of the ${\beta}-phase$ was found to change gradually with the Be:Fe ratio like these. In Be-free alloys, ${\beta}-phase$ with needlelike morphology was well developed, but script phase was appeared when the Be:Fe ratio is above 0.2:1. With the Be:Fe ratios of 0.4:1-1:1, script phase as well as Be-rich phase was also observed. In case of higher Be addition, above 1:1, Be-rich phase was observed on all regions of the specimens, and increasing of the Be:Fe ratios gradually make the Be-rich phase coarse. It was also observed that the ${\beta}-phase$ with needlelike morphology was coarsened with increase of the Fe content in Be-free alloys. However, in Be-added alloys, length and number of these ${\beta}-phases$ were considerably decreased with the increased Be:Fe ratio. Beryllium addition improved tensile properties and impact toughness of the A356 aluminium alloy, due to the formation of a script phase or a Be-rich phase instead of a needlelike ${\beta}-phase$. The DSC tests indicated that the presence of Be could increase the amount of Mg which is available for $Mg_2Si$ precipitate hardening, and enhance the precipitation kinetics by lowering the ternary eutectic temperature.