Effect of Mixed Rare Earth on Microstructure and Properties of 8176 Aluminum Alloy Used for Cables
The 8176 aluminum alloy added with mixture of rare earth for cables was produced by melting, continuous casting and rolling process. The effects of mixed rare earth on microstructure and properties of 8176 aluminum alloy were studied using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) and measuring electrical resistivity, tensile strength and extensibility. The results show that the grains of aluminum alloy were refined obviously after adding rare earths. Si and Fe elements precipitate from the solution state into educts, the honeycomb phase and white ball phase occurr. The electrical resistivity is lower when the content of the added mixed rare earth is 0.10% and 0.25%. The tensile strength of aluminum alloy increases with the increase of the mixed rare earth, but the extensibility is reverse.