Modification in the aluminum silicon system

Abstract

Alloys in the range 0 to 24 wt pct Si have been examined by careful thermal analysis, macroand microscopical study with modification by a mixed alkali fluoride flux, and by separate additions of sodium, potassium, lithium, and strontium. Sodium and strontium exert similar effects and potassium and lithium differing and minor effects; with a mixed alkali flux the influence of sodium is dominant. The normal and modified eutectic arrests in the presence of primary aluminum both show comparable supercoolings and recalescence behavior relative to the horizontal growth temperatures, but this is not observed in hypereutectic alloys containing primary silicon. Both normal and modified eutectics grow radially inward from crucible walls, but the details of the growth fronts are very different: there is no nucleation from the bulk liquid in modified alloys and it is uncertain if this occurs in normal alloys. It is concluded that the structural modification in furnace cooled ingots, as in directionally grown samples, is primarily caused by modified growth of silicon. The mechanism(s) for such modification are briefly discussed.