Recent Advances on Al-Sn Alloys with Ternary Alloying Elements

Al-Sn is an immiscible alloy and it is called as soft tribological alloy [1]. The alloy is widely used in engineering applications as antifriction and self-lubricant material. Moreover, Al-Sn alloys are considered as potential candidate lead free materials for advanced bearings in automotive and tribological applications [1,2]. The best required properties such as good conformability, friction reduction, embeddability, seizure resistance and corrosion resistance are essential to select Al-Sn alloys as engine bearing materials [2]. Sn is an important component of the alloy because it forms films preventing a seizure of Al with a steel shaft on the friction surface. Therefore, the Sn concentration in alloys should be higher and its distribution is more uniform [3]. Though, the solid solubility limit of Sn in Al is below 0.09w% Sn (0.02at%Sn) [4], it is very difficult to achieve homogeneous distribution of Sn in Al matrix [5]. This is due to, high density difference between Al (2.7g/cm³) and Sn (7.2g/ cm³) there will be sedimentary tendency in the casting of Al-Sn alloy. Therefore, to improve the homogeneity of Sn phase in Al-Sn alloys, novel techniques such as physical vapor deposition, powder metallurgy, rapid solidification, severe plastic deformation, electro deposition and ternary alloying elements have been adopted by the researchers [1-6]. However, only few researchers have investigated the mechanical alloying method to produce controlled homogenous and refined microstructure in addition to adding ternary alloying elements in the immiscible Al-Sn alloy. This mini review briefly summarizes the effect of alloying element on the mechanical and tribological properties of Al-Sn alloys.

Effect of Bi addition

Isai Rosales et al. [7] investigated the mechanical properties and tribological behavior of Bi effect on Al-Sn Alloys. Al-Sn alloys were produced by the induction melting method with different Bi additions. Compositions of alloys used were Al-Sn (1-5at%)-Bi(0.5- 4at%). Researchers reported that, addition of 3.5at.% Bi exhibited increment in the plasticity of the alloys at least twice in comparison with the unalloyed sample. Significant increment in the toughness value was observed with 3.0at.% Bi with an increment of 50% compared to pure Al. Improvement of properties was attributed to the refinement of Al grains. Microstructure revealed the presence of bismuth along with Sn in the form of a continuous dispersed network along the grain boundaries of Al matrix as shown Figure 1. It was also highly recommended the use of these alloys in parts exposed to a constant friction and a moderate flexural stresses. However, addition of Bi slightly affected the tribological behavior.

Figure 1: Microstructure of the surface sample of the alloy with 3.5at.% Bi in annealing condition [7].

Effect of Mg addition

An effect and mechanism of Mg addition on the microstructure and tribological properties of the dual-scale Al-Sn alloys was investigated by Lu et al. [2]. The Al-12wt%Sn-(0.5-2.0wt%) Mg alloys were produced by powder metallurgy route. Figure 2 shows the SEM image of The Al-12Sn-2.0Mg alloy. The addition of Mg increased wet-ability of Al and Sn by disrupting the Al oxide film on nanocrystalline powder and improved Sn phase distribution. Mg addition exhibited better mechanical and tribological properties. However, researchers reported that, excessive Mg addition being up to 2.0wt% resulted in poor wear resistance because the ductility of the alloys was decreased. Even wet-ability of alloy worsened due to high amount of Mg₂Sn andAl₁₂Mg₁₇ phases due to excessive addition of MG.

Figure 2: SEM images of CG-30Al-12wtSn alloys with 2.0Mg addition after sintering at 873K for 1h.

Effect of Si addition

Figure 3: Microstructure of Al-Sn-Si alloy.

The mechanical and tribological characteristic of Al-Sn-Si alloy was investigated using a pin-on-disc tribometer by Rameshkumar & Rajendran [6]. The disc material was Al-based alloy with chemical composition (in wt%): 9.0-12.5%Sn, 0.8-1.25% Cu, max 2.7-3.35% Si, and the remainder Al. The friction and wear behavior of the alloy sliding against high carbon-high chromium steel was investigated at different loads (50, 60, 70, and 75 N) at a constant sliding speed of 1m/s. Figure 3 shows SEM image of Al-Sn-Si alloy. Si particles surrounded by soft Sn phase in Al matrix augmented wear and antifrictional properties of alloy. The hardness properties improved with Si addition resulting in better mechanical properties.

Researchers reported that, hardness values increased with the addition of Si (1.364 times more than pure Al and 1.224 times more than an Al-Sn alloy. Al-Sn-Si alloy exhibited little wear. The wear characteristics of the newly developed alloy under lubricated conditions were better than those of the Al-Sn alloy.

Effect of Cu addition

The structure and properties of the Al-20wt.%Sn-1wt.%Cu ternary bearing were studied and analyzed under different cold rolling conditions by Nassar et al. [8]. The micro hardness (Hv) increased with increasing cold rolling reduction till 56% and then decreased at 72%. As the cold rolling rate was increased from 56% to 72% the breaking and distribution of Al₉Cu_11.5 resulted in reduced hardness. With increase in temperature, thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) was increased. However it was reported that mismatch of TEC between Al₂Cu and Sn may develop an internal stresses which leads to generation of cracks. Cold rolling has a negative impact on electrical conductivity due to the rupture of lattice structure which obstacle the electron flow.

Effect of Pb addition

Noskova et al. [9] investigated the mechanical and tribological properties of Al-30Sn, Al-25Sn-15Pb and Al-5Sn-35Pb alloys after equichannel angular pressing at a load of 400kN and shear under a pressure of 5GPa. Addition of Pb in the alloy increased the hardness. Though Pb can be considered as an alloying element due to its toxicity researchers are diverting toward Pb free materials.

Based on literature survey, with the current trends in engineering application to support loads, speed and reliability these alloys are not able to support the demanded heavy loads. An alternative way to reach this requirement can be the alloying with third elements such as Ni and Co. however the effect of these ternary element on Al-Sn are not known and also effect of heat treatment and cooling rate on alloy not focused by other researchers. It is recommended that the future work should focus on investigating effect of nickel and cobalt as ternary alloying element addition to Al-Sn alloys. Further influence of Ni and Co addition on the microstructure and tribological properties of Al-Sn alloys are essential for further research.

Current review provides an important basis for understanding of influence of ternary element such as Bi, Mg, Si, Cu, Pb on microstructural, mechanical properties and tribological properties of Al-Sn alloys. the highlights are, Bi refines grain structure improves mechanical properties, Mg reduces coarsening of Sn and enhances mechanical and tribological properties, Si increases wear resistance and hardness property of the alloy, the microhardness increased with increasing cold rolling reduction till 56% and then decreased at 72% in presence of Cu and addition of Pb in the alloy increased the hardness. However, influence of Ni and Co addition on the microstructure and tribological properties of Al-Sn alloys are essential for further research.

1. Schouwenaars R, Jacobo VH, Ortiz A (2007) Microstructural aspects of wear in soft tribological alloys. Wear 263(1-6): 727-735.
2. Lu ZC, Gao Y, Zeng MQ, Zhu M (2014) Improving wear performance of dual-scale Al-Sn alloys: the role of Mg addition in enhancing Sn distribution and tribolayer stability. Wear 309(1-2): 216-225.
3. Rusin NM, Skorentsev AL, Korosteleva EN (2012) Tribotechnical properties modification of Al-Sn alloys by ECAP. In Strategic Technology (IFOST), 7^th International Forum, IEEE, pp. 1-3.
4. Abed EJ (2012) Study of solidification and mechanical properties of Al-sn casting alloys. Asian Transaction on Engineering 2(3): 89-98.
5. Abed EJ (2014) Rapidly solidified of hyper eutectic aluminum-silicon alloys ribbons by using melt-spinning techniques. International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology 4(3): 1394-1398.
6. Rameshkumar T, Rajendran I (2013) Mechanical and tribological properties on Al-Sn-Si alloy-based plain bearing material. Tribology Transactions 56(2): 268-274.
7. Rosales I, Rodriguez GG, Gama JL, Guardian R (2014) Bismuth effect on the mechanical properties of antifriction Al-Sn alloys. Materials Sciences and Applications 5(5): 330-337.
8. Nassar A, Taha AS, Labeeb A, Gouda ESA (2015) Structure and properties of the Al-Sn-Cu bearing alloy under different cold rolling Conditions. Journal of Materials Science and Engineering B 5(7-8): 298-304.
9. Noskova NI, Korshunov LG, Korznikov AV (2008) Microstructure and tribological properties of Al-Sn, Al-Sn-Pb, and Sn-Sb-Cu alloys subjected to severe plastic deformation. Metal science and heat treatment 50(11): 593-599.