4. Conclusion

In the available literature, information related to a quantitative description of the five feeding mechanisms proposed by Campbell is limited. In this paper, the impact of the main alloying elements Si and Cu on different feeding regions of hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu cast alloys has been studied using the TA technique. It has been shown that both elements have a significant impact on the characteristic solidification temperatures as well as on the amount of fraction solid precipitated at given temperatures. This work has also shown that TA is a valuable tool widely used in aluminum foundries that can collect numerous parameters (characteristic solidification temperatures, fraction solid distribution and others), which are beneficial for a better understanding of the solidification path of hypoeutectic Al-Si-Cu alloys. Applying TA technique as presented in this paper, it is now possible to describe each feeding region quantitatively through a temperature difference related to the total solidification interval or through a different amount of fraction solid that precipitated in each region. It can be assumed that calculated fraction solid at the DCT and fraction solid at TRigidity together with corresponding characteristic solidification temperatures are useful parameters for performing computer simulations of casting feed ability and for the characterization of the solidification process of cast Al-Si-Cu alloys.
