Influence of the Chemical Composition on the Ductility of an AlSiCuZnFe Recycling foundry Alloy

The secondary foundry alloy of the type AlSiCuZnFe is one of the most common materials for several applications, mainly in the automotive industry. The main alloy within the AlSiCuZnFe family is the foundry alloy A226 (AlSi9Cu3(Fe)), which is a recycling alloy. The relatively low ductility of Af 12 % in the as-cast state, just by varying the alloying elements. This microstructureproperty relationship is interpreted in the light of thermodynamic calculations and metallographic investigations.