The Effect of Casting Technique and Severe Straining on the Microstructure, Electrical Conductivity, Mechanical Properties and Thermal Stability of the Al-1.7 wt.% Fe Alloy

This paper features the changes in microstructure and properties of an Al-Fe alloy produced by casting with different solidification rates followed by severe plastic deformation and rolling. Particularly, different states of the as-cast Al-1.7 wt.% Fe alloy, obtained by conventional casting into a graphite mold (CC) and continuous casting into an electromagnetic mold (EMC), as well as after equal-channel angular pressing and subsequent cold rolling, were studied. Due to crystallization during casting into a graphite mold, particles of the Al6Fe phase are predominantly formed in the cast alloy, while casting into an electromagnetic mold leads to the formation of a mixture of particles, predominantly of the Al2Fe phase. The implementation of the two-stage processing by equal-channel angular pressing and cold rolling through the subsequent development of the ultrafine-grained structures ensured the achievement of the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of 257 MPa and 53.3% IACS in the CC alloy and 298 MPa and 51.3% IACS in the EMC alloy, respectively. Additional cold rolling led to a further reduction in grain size and refinement of particles in the second phase, making it possible to maintain a high level of strength after annealing at 230 degrees C for 1 h. The combination of high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability can make these Al-Fe alloys a promising conductor material in addition to the commercial Al-Mg-Si and Al-Zr systems, depending on the evaluation of engineering cost and efficiency in industrial production.