Investigation of microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum alloy parts manufactured by Balouch Aluminum Co

In the present study, metallurgical tests including quantometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and microstructural investigations with optical and scanning electron microscopes were emplyed to investigate the effect of composition and microstructure on the mechanical properties of the cast ingots and extruded profiles manufactured in Balouch Aluminum Company. Results showed that the concentrations of Fe, Si and Cu were higher than the standard composition of 6063 Al alloy. Optical micrographs sowed that pores were mainly observed at the center of ingots. According to XRD analysis, in addition to FCC phase, an iron aluminide intermettalic phase was identified in the structure of ingots. The formation of intermetallic phase was confirmed by energy dispersive analysis attached to the scanning electron microscope. Tensile test results illustrated that the presence of pores and the distribution of intermetallic phases declined the strength and formability of the alloy. The ultimate tensile strengths at the surface and center of the ingot were 103 and 71MPa, respectively. Fractography of samples indicated that the presence of pores and the intermetallic phase led to a combination of ductile and brittle fracture durin tensile test.