Effect of Erbium Addition to A380 Aluminum Alloy on Mechanical and Microstructural Properties

Abstract

There are many studies on improving the properties of aluminum alloys, but the addition of rare earth elements occupies a particularly important place among them. In this study, the effect of erbium (Er) addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A380 aluminum casting alloy was systematically investigated. A series of alloys with varying Er contents (0.03%, 0.05% and 0.1 wt.%) was fabricated using the conventional casting method. The addition of Er led to significant grain refinement, primarily due to the formation of Al₃Er intermetallic particles, which acted as potent nucleation sites during solidification. Optical microscopy and SEM analyses confirmed the morphological transformation of the eutectic silicon phase into a finer and more fibrous structure. Mechanical testing revealed that the alloy containing 0.1 wt.% Er exhibited the highest ultimate tensile strength (236 MPa), elongation (4.56%), and hardness (87.6 HB), indicating an optimal balance between strength and ductility. The improvement is attributed to both microstructural refinement and dispersion strengthening mechanisms. These results suggest that controlled Er addition can be an effective strategy for enhancing the performance of cast Al–Si alloys, making them promising candidates for demanding structural applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.