Addition of Cerium to a Base 390 Aluminum Alloy

A base 390 alloy is a composite containing a matrix of aluminum and silicon. This alloy has added benefits of increased hardness, fluidity, and specific strength. Cerium is added to this alloy to increase the mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. The addition of Cerium improves the ultimate strength and yield strength of the alloy due to an improved microstructure. A series of tests such as X-Ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Nano-Indentation have been conducted to analyze the microstructure and composition of the phases present in the casting. This research will have great value for products produced utilizing aluminum casting due to an increase in fluidity, mechanical properties, and thermal capabilities, compared to a base aluminum alloy