The study of the effect of Ag addition in an amount of trace on semi-solid forming of the ETIAL 171 aluminum alloy

In this study, the effects of semi-solid forming of the ETIAL 171 aluminum alloy which is widely used in the automotive industry on the microstructural and mechanical features of this material have been investigated.Furthermore, the effects of the Ag element, which is added in an amount of trace, on the material?s being able to be formed in a semi-solid state and the properties of the material have been studied. The semi-solid formation has decreased the ?-Al grain size and the intermetallic components and increased the hardness of the material. The Ag addition decreased the grain size 28 per cent and increased the hardness 20 per cent. The SEM/EDS studies and microhardness investigations have shown that the Ag element is present in matrix and intermetallics which are available in eutectic zones and therefore causes an increase in hardness in these zones.In summary, the ETIAL 171 aluminum alloy is suitable material for production through the semi-solid processing; and the semi-solid formation improves the mechanical properties of the material. Furthermore, the Ag addition increases this betterment.