Response to artificial ageing of dendritic and globular Al-7Si-Mg alloys

The age hardening capacity of dendritic and globular Al-7Si-Mg alloys was investigated. The morphology of the alpha-Al matrix has no effect on the age hardening capacity of Al-7Si-Mg alloys while Mg content does. The precipitation sequence of Al-7Si-Mg alloys with more than 0.3 wt.% Mg is the same as that of excess-Si Al-Mg-Si alloys. These alloys offer a significant age hardening capacity unlike Al-7Si-Mg alloys with less than 0.3 wt.% Mg which decompose predominantly with Si precipitation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.