Incremental Melting and Solidification Process/Mechanical Characterization of Functionally Graded Al-Si Alloys

The Incremental Melting and Solidification Process (IMSP) is a relatively new field for material processing for the production of functionally graded materials. In this process a controlled liquid bath is maintained at the top of the component where new materials are added changing the components composition. Thus, a functionally graded material is obtained with a varying composition along one direction of the component. This paper deals with the influence of one of the process parameters, namely displacement rates between heating coil and mould, in order to evaluate its influence on both metallurgical and mechanical properties of different AI-Si alloys. Hardness and phase distribution, along the main castings axis, were measured. To better assess and characterize the process, two different Al-Si alloys with and without variation of chemical composition along the specimen were analysed. Results demonstrate that a gradual variation of metallurgical and mechanical properties along the component is obtained. It is also shown that AI-Si functionally traded materials can be produced by the incremental melting and solidification process. Results show that the displacement rate is very important on metallurgical and mechanical properties of the obtained alloy.