| A Novel Accelerated and Continuous solution treatment (ST), which is known as the Novel Solution Treatment during the Solidification Process (NSTS), was performed on the W319 Al alloy. The metallographic analyses of the test samples showed that the NSTS process allows for the dissolution of the Cu enriched phases as well as Mg and Si based phases during a shorter period of time (between 30 and 60 minutes at a temperature between 510°C and 530°C) in comparison with the solution treatment (ST) process (over 5 hours at a temperature of 495°C) used by Nemak Windsor Aluminum Plant (WAP). The metal matrix microhardness of the W319 alloy after the NSTS process is approximately 10% higher in comparison with the conventional solution treatment (CST). This offers a greater flexibility in selecting the optimum artificial aging (AA) parameters. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
