This paper investigated the effect of a two-step solution heat treatment on the mechanical properties and silicon-rich phase of 332 aluminium alloy. Traditional single-step T6 solution treatment (495 °C/6 h) increased the hardness value of the alloy by 5.96%, increased the tensile strength by 20.42% and reduced the elongation by 3.97%. Two-step solution treatment of the alloy (495 °C/2 h followed by 515 °C/4 h) increased the hardness value by 6.64%, increased the tensile strength by 16.01%, and reduced the elongation by 4.67% compared to the as-cast samples. Both solution treatments were followed by hot water quenching (75-90 °C) and artificial aging at 250 °C for 4 h. The difference in mechanical properties after heat treatment can be linked to the refinement and the spheroidisation of the silicon-rich phase in the alloy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.