CHANGES IN MICROHARDNESS AND PHASE COMPOSITION OF AK15 ALLOY SUBJECTED TO ELECTROEXPLOSIVE ALLOYING AND ELECTRON BEAM PROCESSING

Hypereutectic Al – Si alloys play an important role in industry and in the field of wear resistance of materials. The paper investigates the hypereutectic alloy Al – 15 % Si, subjected to combined processing in various modes. Coatings were analyzed using the following methods: scanning electron microscopy (SEM); scanning electron microscopy (TEM); X-ray phase analysis; measurement of microhardness. Experimental data show that the  introduction of Al – Y2O3 improves both the morphological and mechanical characteristics of the composite. The phase analysis demonstrated a variety of structures and sizes of different phases in the studied material. It is important to note that the average micro-strength of the coating increased by 1.5 times compared to the substrate,which indicates a successful increase in strength characteristics due to changes in the structure of the material. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the crystalline cells mainly consist of Y3Al2, while the intermediate layers are formed by Y2Si2O7. These compounds are known to have increased thermal stability and strength, which greatly contributes to improving the operational characteristics of the material. The use of an intense pulsed electron beam led to the formation of a multiphase submicro- and nanocrystalline structure in the surface layer. This process contributes to a significant increase in microhardness. As a result, the structure of the material becomes more stable under loads, which significantly increases its durability and reliability under operating conditions. These results confirm the expediency of using combined methods of non-equilibrium surface modification of materials and products, which can significantly increase the productivity and efficiency of using such materials in various fields of industry. 

1. Belov N.A. Phase composition of aluminum alloys. Moscow: MISiS Publishing House, 2009:392. (In Russ.)

2. Belov N.A., Savchenko S.V., Hwang A.V. Phase composition and structure of silumins. Moscow: MISIS, 2008:282. (In Russ.).

3. Belsky S.E., Volchok I.P., Mityaev A.A., Svidunovich N.A. Production of aluminum alloys: status and prospects. Casting and metallurgy. 2006;2:130–133. (In Russ.).

4. Drozdov A.A. Aluminum. The thirteenth element: encyclopedia. Moscow: RUSAL Library, 2007:239. (In Russ.).

5. Zolotorevsky V.S., Belov N.A. Metallurgy of foundry aluminum alloys. Moscow: MISiS, 2005:376. (In Russ.).

6. Javidani M., Larouche D. Application of cast Al-Si alloys in internal combustion engine components. International Materials Reviews.

7. ;59(3):132–158.

8. Marukovich E., Stetsenko V. The problem of modifying an aluminum-silicon eutectic alloy of silumins. Way of solutions. Litiyo i Metallurgiya. 2018;2:12‒15. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.21122/1683-6065-2018-2-12-15

9. Samat S., Omar M.Z., Baghdadi A.H., Mohamed I.F., Aziz A.M. Mechanical properties and microstructures of a modified Al–Si–Cu alloy prepared by thixoforming process for automotive connecting rods. Journal of Materials Research and Technology. 2021;10:1086–1102.

10. Laskovnev A.P., Ivanov Yu.F., Petrikova E.A. Modification of the structure and properties of eutectic silumin by electron-ion-plasma treatment.Minsk: Belarus Science, 2013:287. (In Russ.).

11. Sigworth G.K. The modification of Al-Si casting alloys: important practical and theoretical aspects. International Journal of Metalcasting.

12. ;2(2):19–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03355425

13. Stepanova E.N., Grabovetskaya G.P., Mishin I.P., Teresov A.P., Syrtanov M.S. Structure and mechanical properties of the Zr-Nb-H system alloys after pulsed electron beam exposure. AIP Conference Proceedings: Proceedings of the Advanced Materials with Hierarchical

14. Structure for New Technologies and Reliable Structures: electronic collection, Tomsk, 01–05 октября 2018. Vol. 2051. Tomsk: AIP Publishing LLC, 2018;020295.https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5083538

15. Bestetti M., Andrea L. H., Batuhan A. Investigation on the properties of anodic oxides grown on aluminium-silicon alloys irradiated

16. by pulsed electron beam. Materials. Technologies. Design. 2023;5(3):109–122. https://doi.org/10.54708/26587572_2023_5313109

17. Gen Ya., Panchenko I.A., Konovalov S.V., Ivanov Yu.F., Chen S. Effect of electron beam processing on the structure of additive Al – Mg alloy. Bulletin of the Siberian State Industrial University. 2023;44(2):13–19. (In Russ.).https://doi.org/10.57070/2304-4497-2023-2(44)-13-19

18. Romanov D.A., Budovskikh E.A., Zhmakin Y.D., Gromov V.E. Surface modification by the EVU60/10 electroexplosive system. Izvestiya. Ferrous Metallurgy. 2011;(6):19–23.

19. Electronion-plasma modification of the surface of non-ferrous metals and alloys. N.N. Koval and Yu.F. Ivanov ed. Tomsk: NTL Publishing House, 2016:312. (In Russ.).

20. Egerton F.R. Physical Principles of Electron Microscopy. Basel: Springer International Publishing, 2016:196.

21. Kumar C.S.S.R. Transmission Electron Microscopy. Characterization of Nanomaterials. New York: Springer, 2014:717.

22. Fultz B., Howe J. Transmission Electron Microscopy and Diffractometry of materials, fourth edition. Berlin: Springer, 2013:764.

23. Thomas J., Gemming T. Analytical transmission Electron Microscopy. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2014:348.

24. Liu Y.R., Zhang K.M., Zou J.X., Liu D.K., Zhang T.C. Effect of the high current pulsed electron beam treatment on the surface microstructure and corrosion resistance of a Mg-4Sm alloy. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2018;741(3):65–75.

25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.12.227

26. Zhang T.C., Zhang K.M., Zou J.X., Yan P., Yang H.Y., Song L.X., Zhang X. Surface microstructure and property modifications in a Mg-8Gd-3Y-0.5Zr magnesium alloy treated by high current pulsed electron beam. Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 2019;788(2):231–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.02.130