Change in the Microstructure of AlSi10MgMn Alloy with Higher Iron Content Due to an Increase in the Amount of Nickel

Recycling of the materials often requires modification of the manufacturing processes or application of the techniques to eliminate impurities that enter the material during recycling process. The main and the most detrimental impurity of the secondary (recycled) aluminium alloy is iron. Low iron solubility in aluminium leads to formation of the significant amount of harmful intermetallic phases that decrease foundry and mechanical properties of the final castings. Elimination of the detrimental iron effects might be achieved by addition of some chemical elements to change morphology of the intermetallic phase or to reduce negative effects of the phase to alloy properties. Gradual increase in the amount of nickel in the AlSi10MgMn alloy with a higher iron content is described in the presented article. From the selected additions of nickel (0,1, 0,3 and 0,5 wt.% Ni), the most favourable results were achieved by the addition of 0,5 wt. % Ni. Structural analysis of all experimental alloys (without addition and with a gradual addition of Ni) and related changes in measuring tensile and hardness properties is present