Influence of Minor Additions of Be on the Eutectic Modification of an Al-33wt.%Cu Alloy Solidified under Transient Conditions

Al-based alloys are often selected for use in various engineering applications as well the aircraft and aerospace industry. The improvement of their performances under severe conditions have required alloying elements. In present work, Be is added to eutectic Al-33 wt.%Cu alloy with a view investigating resulting effects on microstructural features hardness. A directional solidification technique used, yielding wide range cooling rates. This permits be investigated emphasis role morphology. directionally solidified microstructures formed by colonies alloy, however, additions both 0.05 0.5 wt.% Be, original cell-like morphology transformed into trefoil-like together α-Al dendritic pattern characterize microstructure Al-33Cu-Be examined. Solidification growth laws experimentally derived relating colony spacings rates length scale such shown not affect Vickers hardness examined; improve brittle behavior alloy.