Optimization of Strengths and Electrical Conductivities of Al-Si-Cu-Ni-Sr Alloys

The aim of this study is to develop new cast aluminum alloys for the production of rotor bar in the rotor with high as-cast strength and electrical conductivity. A design of experiment (DOE) technique, Taguchi method, was used to develop high as-cast strength and electrical conductivity alloys with various element addition of Si, Cu, Ni and Sr. The optimal combination of chemical composition for maximizing the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), electrical conductivity (σ) and yield strength (YS) was 6 wt.% Si, 3 wt.% Cu, 0.03 wt.% Sr and 0.5 wt.% Ni. The alloy with the optimal composition had an averaged UTS of 247.58 MPa, an averaged electrical conductivity is 38.01%IACS, and an averaged yield strength is 143.47 Mpa.