3D Interpenetrating Hybrid Network of Rigid Phases in an AlSi10Cu5NiFe Piston Alloy

Abstract The three dimensional architecture of an AlSi10Cu5NiFe piston alloy in as-cast condition is characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by means of synchrotron tomography and light optical tomography. The same sample is used to correlate and combine the results obtained using both techniques. Synchrotron tomography reveals the long-range interconnectivity, volume fraction and shape of different aluminides present in the studied alloy. The morphology of individual aluminides and their contiguity between each other as well as with the eutectic Si is studied by light optical tomography. The eutectic Si and the Fe-aluminides show a considerable fraction of regions with platelet-like morphologies while the Cu-aluminides and Ni-aluminides show a large fraction of region with convex saddle and convex cylindrical morphologies. The aluminides and the eutectic Si form ≈ 18 vol. % three dimensional hybrid network with a long-range contiguity and interconnectivity located in the interdendritic space.