Determining the optimal solution treatment temperature of aluminum cast alloys by using quantitative analysis

Heat treatment of aluminum casts is necessary for achieving the desired properties of casts. Heat treatment caused changes in microstructure and substructure of materials and therefore it is necessary to control which changes are sufficient and which are insufficient. Morphology (shape, size and distribution) of microstructural features influence the properties of cast rapidly. Contribution describes influence of the heat treatment marking T4 - solution treatment in dependence on temperature (505, 515 a 525 °C) and holding time (2, 4, 8, 16 a 32 hour) on structure (α–phase, eutectic silicon, intermetallic phases) and mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength - UTS and Brinell hardness - HBW) of A226 cast alloy. This cast alloy is made out of secondary aluminum. Secondary aluminum alloys are made of aluminum scrap. About 70 % of such material are used in the manufacture of casts. Therefore the strictly microstructure control of experimental material before and after heat treatment is necessary for declaration of cast properties. Nowadays manufacturers use the methods of quantitative analysis for quick control of microstructural features. This work present some of them