This study elucidates how Cu content affects the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-14 5Si-0 5Mg alloy by adding 465 wt % and 0 52 wt % Cu Different Fe bearing phases were found in the two alloys The acicular beta Al(5)FeSi was found only in the high Cu alloy In the low Cu alloy Al(8)Mg(3)FeSi(6) was the Fe bearing phase Tensile testing indicated that the low Cu alloy containing Al(8)Mg(3)FeSi(6) had higher UTS and elongation than the high Cu alloy containing the acicular beta Al(5)FeSi It is believed that the presence of the acicular p Al5FeSi in the high Cu alloy increased the number of crack initiators and brittleness of the alloy Increasing Cu content in the Al-14 5Si-0 5Mg alloy also promoted solution hardening and precipitation hardening under as quenched and aging conditions respectively The hardness of the high Cu alloy therefore exceeded that of low Cu alloy (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved
