Investigation of the Effects of Solution Rapid Treatment on Wear Properties of AlSi10Mg Alloy

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tribological response of laser powder bed-fused AlSi10Mgafter an innovative rapid T6 heat treatment and to compare it with that of as-built and conventional T6conditions. Four rapid T6 routes, each with a signifi cantly shortened solutionization time (5–10 min at510–540°C + aging), were compared with the standard T6 route (540°C, 2 h + aging). Microstructure(optical microscopy, SEM, and XRD), hardness, and dry sliding wear performance (ball-on-fl atreciprocating, WC ball, 2 N, 25 m) were analyzed using friction curves and wear volume measurements,supported by 3D wear-track profi ling and SEM investigations of wear tracks. Rapid T6 routes produced arefi ned, homogeneous distribution of spheroidized Si, with hardness higher than that of conventional T6.The rapid T6 routes using 5 min solutionization showed the lowest wear volume, whereas conventionalT6 exhibited ~ 50% greater wear volume loss than the as-built state due to Si coarsening and matrixsoftening. Almost all rapid T6 conditions, except 10 minutes at 510°C, improved wear resistance relativeto conventional T6, and the optimal rapid T6 route (540°C, 5 minutes) achieved approximately 40% betterwear performance. In general, the wear damage was primarily caused by oxidation and abrasion. Thisstudy demonstrates that rapid T6 provides a time- and energy-effi cient post-processing route thatimproves wear resistance against sliding wear conditions.