Abstract:
We have studied the influence of strontium additives on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an aluminum alloy with 15 wt % silicon prepared by directional crystallization using the Stepanov method at a solidification rate of 10$^3$$\mu$m/s. The initial alloy has a fine-grained eutectic structure. The introduction of strontium leads to additional refinement of the structure and increases the tensile strength and elongation at break. These characteristics of a directionally crystallized alloy are higher than those of a eutectic alloy obtained by casting to a mold.