Effects of Sr-modification and melt cleanliness on melt hydrogen absorption of 319 aluminium alloy

The effect of Sr-modification on hydrogen content of commercial 319 aluminium alloy melts has been quantified, by using HYSCAN instrument at 685degreesC and 735degreesC. In addition, the effect of melt cleanliness on the hydrogen content of the melt has been studied. It has been found that the melt cleanliness has a significant effect on the reduction of hydrogen content of the melt. The hydrogen contents of Sr-modified cleaned melts were significantly lower (30-45%) than uncleaned melts (melts containing surface oxide layers) at both temperatures. Sr-modification had no marked effect on the hydrogen content of the melt at both temperatures, when measurements were carried out in a cleaned melt. Hydrogen content of strontium modified, uncleaned melts has been increased, particularly at 685degreesC. In order to study the melt hydrogen absorption susceptibility in Sr-modified alloys, the formation of different hydrogen containing compounds such as hydrides and hydroxide of modifiers and other alloying elements in Al-Si melts has been evaluated thermodynamically. It has been found that there is no hydrogen containing compound, which can form in aluminium melts, and if these compounds are introduced into the melt they will dissociated to release hydrogen. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.