Effect of Cu-Additions on the Hand-Over Layer of an Aluminum Alloy - Hardening for the Top Ring Groove of Automotive Piston by the Plasma Transferred Arc Welding Process -

The surface of AC8A Ah alloy was modified by adding the Cu powder using a Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) welding process. Under the optimum fabricating conditions, the modified surface of AC8A Ah alloy was observed to possess the sound microstructure with a minimum porosity. Hardness and wear resistance properties of the as-fabricated alloy were compared with those of the 76 heat-treated one. In case of the as-fabricated alloy, the hardness of the modified layer was twice that of the matrix region. Although significant increase in the hardness of the matrix region was observed after T6 heat treatment, the hardness of the modified layer was not observed to change. The wear resistance of the modified layer was significantly increased compared to that of the matrix region. The microstructure of a weld zone and the matrix region were investigated using the optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The primary and eutectic silicon in the weld zone were finer and more curved than in the matrix region, while some precipitates has had been found therein. According to the TEM observation, the predominant precipitate present in the weld zone was the $\theta$'phase, which is precipitated during cooling by rapid solidification in PTA welding process. Improvement of hardness and wear properties in the weld zone in the as-fabricated condition can be explained based on the presence of $\theta$’precipitates and fine primary and eutectic silicon distribution.