The effect of copper addition on the amenability to precipitation hardening of Al-Si-Fe-alloy

The effect of copper addition on the amenability to precipitation hardening of the as-cast Al-Si-Fe alloy was investigated. The percentage copper in the alloy was varied from 2 to 8%. It was observed that all three mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength and impact energy) of the as-cast alloys increased after precipitation hardening for all levels of copper addition considered. However, beyond 4% Cu addition, the hardness and the tensile strength of the precipitation hardened alloys began to fall, while the impact energy of both the as-cast and precipitation hardened alloys generally decreased with increase in copper addition.