Possibility of Eliminating Iron in Aluminium Alloy Through Sedimentation

The article is dedicated to research on the elimination of high iron content (above 3-4%) in aluminium alloys through sedimentation. The aim was to determine the effect of sedimentation time on reducing the iron content in material from a refining bath with high iron content and to identify the phases formed in the structure. Melts were prepared from the material obtained from the refining bath, which consisted of an AlSi12 alloy with 3-4% Fe content. After melting, sedimentation was carried out for 2 hours, 4 hours, and 6 hours. Sedimentation was conducted while maintaining the alloy in a liquid state throughout the entire sedimentation period. After sedimentation and cooling of the castings, samples were taken to prepare metallographic specimens, and analyses were conducted to measure the iron content in the individual samples and to observe the reduction of iron content depending on the sedimentation time. Additionally, the identification and description of the intermetallic phases formed in the structures of the sedimenting castings from the refining bath were carried out using a scanning electron microscope with EDS analysis.