Heat treatment as a route to tailor the yield-damping properties in A356 alloys

A356 is a common industrial alloy due to its relatively good mechanical properties, reduced weight and capability be casted into complex structures. However, in order to display good static mechanical properties (e.g. elevated yield strength) it must be heat treated (usually T6), therefore, compromising its dynamic properties (e.g. damping ratio). This study analyses the role of such heat treatments in the overall microstructure of A356 poured in ceramic block, associating the morphology transformations with the internal mechanisms that enhance yield strength and reduce damping. It is suggested that these variables display an inverse proportionality and a linear model is determined for the design of alloys with tailored yield/damping by the use of different artificial ageing times.