Effect of casting modifiers on surface roughness and chip formation of Al-12Si alloy

ABSTRACT In this study, the effects of casting modifiers on the surface roughness and chip formation of Al-12Si alloy materials were experimentally investigated. Machinability tests were carried out using a conventional lathe. Machinability tests were performed on four different materials, Etial 140, Etial 140 +CuSn5, Etial 140 +Al10Sr and Etial 140 +Al10Sr+CuSn5, respectively. A constant depth of cut, 3 different cutting speeds (Vc: 35, 95, 135 m/min) and three different feed rates (f: 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 mm/rev) were chosen as test parameters. The most effective roughness reduction under these test conditions was 7.21% for the Al10Sr modified test material. According to the measured density values of the unmodified material, the density values of the other tested materials increased by 1.65% for CuSn5, 0.40% for Al10Sr and 1.16% for CuSn5+Al10Sr. Furthermore, the hardness values increased by 5.48% for CuSn5, 0.58% for Al10Sr, and 15.75% for CuSn5+Al10Sr.