The Influence of Metallic Addition on Fluidity of Aluminum (LM6) Alloy
The effect of Cr addition on the fluidity of aluminum (LM6) alloy has been investigated by spiral fluidity test. Presence of 0.1 wt.% Cr decreased fluidity of melt due to formation of sludge. In fact Cr changes the morphology of the intermetallic phase from β-intermetallics less harmful polyhedral morphology (α-intermetallics). The β-phases have largest surface to volume ratio, hence they have the largest interfacial region with the melt and are the most detrimental intermetallic to drop off the fluidity. In Cr-containing alloys the effect of α-phase is less detrimental than β-phase to the fluidity. On the other hand sludge formation and consuming Si and shifts the local chemical composition of the melt to the aluminum side of the phase diagram which has lower fluidity than eutectic and hypereutectic compositions.