Three Dimensional Morphology of β-Al5FeSi Intermetallics in AlSi Alloys

Iron is the most common and detrimental impurity in casting alloys and has been associated with many defects. The main consequence of the presence or adding of iron to AlSi alloys is the formation Fe-rich intermetallics with especially deleterious β-Al5FeSi. β-Al5FeSi phases are most often called needles on 2D micro sections, whilst platelets in 3D geometry. The x-ray tomography results have demonstrated Fe-rich phases with shapes different from simple forms such as needles or platelets and presented bent and branched phases. β grown as complicated structure of bent and branched intermetallics can decrease feeding ability, strengthen pores nucleation and eutectic colonies nucleation leading to lower permeability of mushy zone and porosity in the castings.