Abstract
The novel Al-Fe based eutectic alloy which features Zn and Mg as precipitation strengtheners were used in the manufacturing of test plates using high vacuum high pressure die casting (HVHPDC). They have in previous studies shown to age naturally with its mechanical properties rising interestingly to meet up with the industry benchmark within three days of natural ageing (from fresh cast) in as-cast condition. Taking a step further, in the bid to mimic the industrial process to which some of this alloy will eventually be deployed, some samples were subjected to an experimental “paint bake” treatment which is typical on a coating line where the structural parts are subjected to a temperature range of about 120 - 200oC for thirty minutes. The samples were subjected to this treatment at various ages and the results obtained were amazing. It was clearly deductible that samples of different ages (stages of natural ageing) react in distinctly different ways to the “paint bake” treatment. In general, the mechanical properties of the samples crashed upon treatment, then rose gradually to equalize with the values of the control samples (non-paint-baked samples). However, some samples rose faster while some basically remained “dead” in the low mechanical properties state for the duration of the experiment. Samples treated at stages when the precipitates are very active (clustering or dissolution peaks) showed the worst result suggesting that it may not be a good time to disrupt the NA process.