METALLOGRAPHIC METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE QUALITY OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
Keywords:
metallography, non-standard control methods, measurement uncertainty, aluminium alloys
Abstract
Metallographic investigations are critical in research and materials’ quality control. Therefore, these methods are very present in scientific and industrial activities. In particular for quality control, metallographic analyses have an indirect correlation with quality, time and economic aspect in the metallurgical industry. Most of the metallographic methods used for aluminium alloys’ quality determination are non-standard and are required by customers. The suitability and effectiveness of these metallographic control methods are best determined by interlaboratory investigations. In this investigation, two metallographic laboratories with seven different operators using five different light microscopes with associated software were involved. The interlaboratory analyses covered a determination of the rim zone, dendritic arm space, intermetallic phases and non-metallic inclusions. From the calculated measurement uncertainty, where in the worst case results differ by 4.7 %, it is clear that all four metallographic methods are suitable for implementation in industrial quality laboratories, when correctly and accurately defined (with easy-to-follow instructions).
References
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23 E. A. Ossa, M. Paniagua, Suspension and landing gear failures, Handbook of materials failure analysis with case studies from the aerospace and automotive industries (Chapter 8), Elsevier, Butterworth-Heinemann 2016, 167-190, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800950-5.00008-9
24 C. M. Allen, K. A. Q. O'Reilly, B. Cantor, P.V. Evans, Intermetallic phase selection in 1XXX Al alloys, Prog. Mater. Sci., 43 (1998) 89-170, doi:10.1016/S0079-6425(98)00003-6
2 A. Z. Guštin, B. Žužek, B. Podgornik, V. Kevorkijan, The uncertainty of hardness measurements related to the measurement method, surface, preparation and range of the measurements, Mater. Tehnol., 53 (2019) 897-904, doi:10.17222/mit.2019.098
3 G. F. Vander Voort, Metallography and Microstructures, ASM Handbook, Volume 9, ASM International, Ohio 2004, 1140, doi:10.31399/asm.hb.v09.9781627081771
4 A. Klobodanović, M. Oruč, Laboratory accreditation – confidence in the activities of conformity assessment of products, Mater. Tehnol., 40 (2006) 273-276
5 N. Thangapandian, S. Balasivanandha Prabu, K. A. Padmanabhan, Effect of Temperature on Grain Size in AA6063 Aluminum Alloy Subjected to Repetitive Corrugation and Straightening, Acta Metal. Sin. (Eng. Lett.), 32 (2019) 835-844, doi:10.1007/s40195-018-0866-6
6 A. Guštin, M. Sedlaček, B. Žužek, B. Podgornik, V. Kevorkijan, Analysis of the surface-preparation effect on the hardness-measurement uncertainty of aluminium alloys, Mater. Tehnol., 54 (2020) 845-852, doi:10.17222/mit.2020.008
7 M. C. Flemings, New solidification processes and products, Metals Technology, (1979) 56-61
8 F. C. Campbell, Fundamentals of solidification, Phase Diagrams-Understanding the basics (Appendix B), ASM International, Ohio 2012, 429-445
9 D. H. Kirkwood, A simple model for dendrite arm coarsening during solidification, Mater. Sci. Eng., 73 (1985) L1-L4
10 E. Vandersluis, C. Ravindran, Comparison of measurement methods for secondary dendrite arm spacing, Metallogr. Microstruct. Anal., (2017) 89-94, doi:10.1007/s13632-016-0331-8
11 K. Radhakrishna, S. Seshan, Dendrite arm spacing and mechanical properties of aluminium alloy castings, Cast Metals, 2 (1989) 34-38, doi:10.1080/09534962.1989.11818980
12 J. Hirsch, T. Al-Samman, Superior light metals by texture engineering: Optimized aluminum and magnesium alloys for automotive applications, Acta Mater., 61 (2013) 818-843, doi:10.1016/j.actamat.2012.10.044
13 B. Šuštaršič, B. Senčič, B. Arzenšek, P. Jodin, The notch effect on the fatigue strength of 51CrV4Mo spring steel, Mater. Tehnol., 41 (2007) 29-34
14 V. H. Jacobo, E. I. Ramirez, R. Schouwenaars, A. Ortiz, Failure of structural parts for large road vehicles, Handbook of materials failure analysis with case studies from the aerospace and automotive industries (Chapter 19), Elsevier, Butterworth-Heinemann 2016, 433-447, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800950-5.00008-9
15 J. Gu, M. Gao, S. Yang, J. Bai, Y. Zhai, J. Ding, Microstructure, defects, and mechanical properties of wire + arc additively manufactured Alsingle bondCu4.3-Mg1.5 alloy, Mater. Des., 186 (2020) 108357, doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2019.108357
16 G. Timelli, A. Fabrizi, The Effects of Microstructure Heterogeneities and Casting Defects on the Mechanical Properties of High-Pressure Die-Cast AlSi9Cu3(Fe) Alloys, Metal. Mater. Trans. A, 45 (2014) 5486-5498, doi:10.1007/s11661-014-2515-7
17 ISO 643:2012 Steels – Micrographic determination of the apparent grain size, ISO Committee Geneve
18 ASTM E112-13 Standard test methods for determining average grain size, ASTM International, West Conshohocken
19 P.R.M. Vieira, S. Paciornik, Uncertainty evaluation of metallographic measurements by image analysis and thermodynamic modeling, Mater. Charac., 47 (2001) 219-226, doi:10.1016/S1044-5803(01)00171-1
20 W. R. Osorio, P. R. Goulart, G. A. Santos, C. M. Neto, A. Garcia, Effect of dendritic arm spacing on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of Al 9 Wt Pct Si and Zn 27 Wt Pct Al alloys, Metal. Mater. Trans. A, 37 (2006) 2525-2538, doi:10.1080/10426910701190345
21 A.F. Ferras, F. De Almeida, E. Costa e Silva, A. Correia, F.J.G. Silva, Scrap production of extruded aluminum alloys by direct extrusion, Proc. Manuf., 38 (2019) 1731-1740, doi:10.1016/j.promfg.2020.01.100
22 T. Carlberg, N. Bayat, M. Erdegren, Surface Segregation and Surface Defect Formation During Aluminum Billet Casting, Trans. Indian Inst. Metal., 68 (2015) 1065-1069, doi:10.1007/s12666-015-0647-0
23 E. A. Ossa, M. Paniagua, Suspension and landing gear failures, Handbook of materials failure analysis with case studies from the aerospace and automotive industries (Chapter 8), Elsevier, Butterworth-Heinemann 2016, 167-190, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-800950-5.00008-9
24 C. M. Allen, K. A. Q. O'Reilly, B. Cantor, P.V. Evans, Intermetallic phase selection in 1XXX Al alloys, Prog. Mater. Sci., 43 (1998) 89-170, doi:10.1016/S0079-6425(98)00003-6
Published
2021-07-26
How to Cite
1.
Kraner J, Kevorkijan V, Godec M, Paulin I. METALLOGRAPHIC METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE QUALITY OF ALUMINIUM ALLOYS. MatTech [Internet]. 2021Jul.26 [cited 2026Aug.10];55(4):541–547. Available from: https://mater-tehnol.si/index.php/MatTech/article/view/143
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