Varying Ce content in Al-Ce alloys: study of solidification microstructures and morphologies

• Grant number: 22/06232-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: José Eduardo Spinelli
• Grantee: Rafael Bispo Baraldi
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The addition of Ce in Al alloys, although not yet performed in commercial alloys, arouses great interest due to the possibilities of replacing the addition of Ni in Al-Si alloys. This is because Ce opens the possibility for the formation of second phases with superior thermal stability and, therefore, alloy with superior performance in applications at high temperatures, for example between 250oC and 500oC. Al-Ce alloys are also distinguished by their high cast ability, facilitating melting operations. Although Al-Ce alloys are promising from the point of view of applications and performance, study of these alloys still lacks a better understanding of the effects of Ce and solidification rates on microstructures, phase morphologies and mechanical properties. As such, the present proposal intends to advance in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the solidification of Al-Ce binary alloys, for contents varying between 4% and 10% of Ce (weight %).(AU)