Microstructure, Tensile Strength, and High Cycle Fatigue Properties of Mg+Al2Ca added ADC12 (Al-Si-Cu) Alloy

This study investigated the microstructure, tensile strength, and high cycle fatigue properties of ADC12 aluminum alloys with different $Mg+Al_2Ca$ contents manufactured using die casting process. Microstructural observation identified the presence of ${\alpha}-Al$, eutectic Si, $Al_2Cu$, and Fe-intermetallic phases. The increase of $Mg+Al_2Ca$ content resulted in finer pore size and decreased pore distribution. Room temperature tensile strength tests were conducted at strain rate of $1{\times}10^{-3}/sec$. For 0.6%Mg ADC12, measured UTS, YS, and El were 305.2MPa, 157.0MPa, and 2.7%, respectively. For 0.8%Mg ADC12, measured UTS, YS, and El were 311.2 MPa, 159.4 MPa, and 2.4%, respectively. Therefore, 0.8% ADC12 alloy had higher strength and slightly decreased elongation compared to 0.6% Mg ADC12. High cycle fatigue tests revealed that 0.6% Mg ADC12 alloy had a fatigue limit of 150 MPa while 0.8% Mg ADC12 had a fatigue limit of 160MPa. It was confirmed that $Mg+Al_2Ca$ added ADC12 alloy achieved finer, spherical eutectic Si particles, and $Al_2Cu$ phases with greater mechanical and fatigue properties since size and distribution of pores and shrinkage cavities decreased as $Mg+Al_2Ca$ content increased.