Thermodynamic evaluation of hypereutectic Al-Si (A390) alloy with addition of Mg

This paper presents the thermodynamic evaluation of A390 hypereutectic Al-Si alloy (Al-17% Si-4.5% Cu-0.5% Mg) and alloys up to 10% Mg, using the Factsage (R) software. Two critical compositions were detected at 4.2% and 7.2% Mg where the temperatures of the liquidus, the start of the binary and of the ternary eutectic reaction are changed. These critical compositions show differences in the formation of Mg,Si intermetallic particles during the solidification interval. For compositions up to 4.2% Mg, the Mg2Si intermetallic phase first appears in the ternary eutectic zone. With Mg contents between 4.2% and 7.2%, Mg2Si particle appears in both the binary and ternary eutectic reactions. Above 7.2% Mg, it solidifies as a primary phase and also during the binary and ternary reactions. The calculated liquid fraction vs. temperature curves also showed a decrease of the eutectic formation temperature (knee point temperature) with the addition of Mg content up to 4.2% Mg. This temperature becomes almost constant up to 10% Mg. The calculation of eutectic formation temperature shows a good agreement with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. (C) 2010 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.