Solidification and processing of aluminium based immiscible alloys

Abstract

The Al-Sn and Al-Pb based immiscible alloys have significant potential for bearing applications. However, the mixing and understanding of solidification process for immiscible alloys have been long standing challenges for their development. This paper presents solidification and microstructural evolution of the Al-Sn-Cu alloys and also describes the mechanism of effective mixing by the intensive shearing. The experimental work was also focused on analyzing the effects of shear rate, temperature and time on Sn droplets size and their distribution. Results have been compared with earlier study on Al-Si-Pb alloys. Experimental results suggest that the intensive shearing process produces homogeneous and finely dispersed Sn and Pb droplets.