Effects of Solution Treatment on the Microstructure and Wear Behavior of 332 Aluminum Alloy

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Abstract

The effect of T6 heat treatment on the microstructure and wear behavior of Al-332 piston alloy containing 1.2wt% iron was investigated. The results showed that the T6 heat treatment changed the morphology of acicular eutectic Si particles to a more spherical form. The heat treatment also reduced the average length and blunted the needle-like ?- phase intermetallics through dissolution and fragmentation. The results also showed that an increase in the time and temperature of the heat treatment decreased the length of the ?-phase by about 70 percent and further blunted it at solutionizing temperature of 520?C for 14h. The results also showed that heat treatment increased the wear resistance of the alloy by about 40 percent.

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