This paper describes a study on the effects of heat treatment on the microstructure, hardness and wear of aluminum alloys 332 (AlSi9Cu3Mg). The solution treatment was performed at 500°C for 5 hours and then quenched in water at room temperature. Aging was performed at 170°C for 2 hours. The findings revealed that after a full heat treatment, the structure of the eutectic silicon formed toward fragmentation and spheroidization, and the silicon particles became coarse (look-like rounded). Hard intermetallic compound (Mg2Si) appeared on the microstructure after the aging treatment completed. Compared to the as-cast, the hardness of the alloys has improved to 44.84%, and the wear rate of the solution treatment had decreased to 26% while the aging treatment showed a deterioration of 79.42%. The study concludes that aging treatment improves the hardness of AA332 alloys and enhanced the wear resistance of the substance.

This paper describes a study on the effects of Mg 2 Si (p) addition on the microstructure, porosity, and mechanical properties namely hardness and tensile properties of AA332 composite. Each composite respectively contains 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% reinforcement particles developed by a stir-casting. The molten composite was stirred at 600 rpm and melted at 900°C ± 5°C. The Mg 2 Si particles were wrapped in an aluminum foil to keep them from burning when melting. The findings revealed that the microstructure of Mg 2 Si (p) /AA332 consists of α-Al, binary eutectic (Al+Mg 2 Si), Mg 2 Si particles, and intermetallic compound. The intermetallic compound was identified as Fe-rich and Cu-rich, formed as polygonal or blocky, Chinese script, needle-like, and polyhendrons or "skeleton like". The porosity of Mg 2 Si (p) /AA332 composite increased from 8-10% and the density decreased from 9-12% from as-cast. Mechanical properties such as hardness increased for over 42% from as-cast and the highest UTS, elongation, and maximum Q.I were achieved in the sample of 10% Mg 2 Si. The study concludes that combined with AA332, the amount of 10 wt% of Mg 2 Si is a suitable reinforcement quantity with the combination of AA332.

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