IJBTT

Effect of Silicon on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-Si Piston Alloys

	International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT)
	© 2015 by IJETT Journal
	Volume-29 Number-6
	Year of Publication : 2015
	Authors : Blesson Mathai, Prof. Cijo Mathew, Prof. Pratheesh K, Dr. Cibu K Varghese
	DOI :  10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V29P256

Citation 

Blesson Mathai, Prof. Cijo Mathew, Prof. Pratheesh K, Dr. Cibu K Varghese"Effect of Silicon on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-Si Piston Alloys", International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), V29(6),299-303 November 2015. ISSN:2231-5381. www.ijettjournal.org. published by seventh sense research group

Abstract
Al-Si alloys are in demand for several structural devices of their high strength to weight ratio. The enhancement in properties is further observed when suitably alloyed with the different elements. Al-Si alloy find their application mostly in automobile engineering. Si in the matrix nucleates as needle structure when solidified. These needle structures when modified exhibit very mechanical and wear properties. The microstructure can be modified and mechanical properties can be improved by alloying and heat treatment. The typical alloying elements are copper, magnesium and nickel. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of Si content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hypo eutectic, eutectic and hypereutectic Al–Si piston alloys .The alloys of different content of Si namely 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and 16 % are produced by gravity die casting route in an electric resistance furnace. The paper also emphasises the role of heat treatment on the microstructure and hence the mechanical properties of the Al-Si piston alloy. The micro structural observations and mechanical properties namely tensile strength and hardness were investigated according to standard procedure. Ultimate tensile strength has increased with increase in silicon content. The hardness of the samples increases with the increase in silicon content. The application of heat treatment produced a finer microstructure and resulted in a uniform distribution of the intermetallic compounds and it modifies the eutectic Si phase and hence improves the mechanical properties of the alloy.

 References

[1] B.K. Prasad,A. K. Patwardhan, &A.H.Yegneswaran (1997). “Microstructural modifications through compositional alteration and their influence on themo mechanical and sliding wear properties of zinc-based alloys”.
[2] B. K. Prasad, A. K. Patwardhan, A. H. yegneswaran, & Z. Metallkd (1997). “: Influence of aluminium content on the physical, mechanical and sliding wear properties of zincbased alloys”, 88 (4), 333–338.
[3] .Dheerendra Kumar Dwivedi, “Sliding temperature and wear behaviour of castal–si–mg alloys”, Materials science and engineering a 382 (2004) 328–334,
[4] Francis Uchenna Ozioko, “Synthesis and study on effect of parameters on dry sliding wear characteristics of Al-Si alloys”, Leonardo electronics j. of practices and technologies, issue (20), 2012, pp.39-48.
[5] Hesham Elzanaty, “Effect of different Si content on the mechanical properties in al-based alloy”, International journal of research in engineering & technology (impact: ijret) (p): 2347-4599 vol. 2, issue 7, july 2014, 49-54
[6] .Milind G Kalhapure “Impact of silicon content on mechanical properties of aluminum alloys” International journal of science and research (ijsr) issn (online): 2319-7064 6. Volume 4 issue 6,
[7] M. Gupta, “Microstructure and mechanical properties of hypo/ hyper-eutectic al–si alloys synthesized using a near-net shape forming technique” Journal of alloys and compounds 287 (1999) 284–294
[8] R. S. Rana, Rajesh Purohit, S Das,” Review on the Influence of Alloying elements on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloys”, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication, Volume 2, Issue 6, June 2012.
[9] Rajneesh Kumar Verma, “Effect of variation of silicon and copper contents in aluminium-silicon-copper alloy” International journal on emerging technologies 4(1): 149-156, 2013
[10] Tsushima-Naka,“An investigation into solidification and mechanical properties behavior of al-si casting alloys” International journal of mechanical & mechatronics engineering ijmme-ijens vol: 10 no: 04, august 2010.

Keywords
Aluminium alloys, alloying elements, heat treatment, microstructure, tensile strength, material removal rate.