On the Dissolution Process of Manganese and Iron in Molten Aluminum

The dissolution of Mn and Fe in liquid Al presents a challenge due to their high melting points and low diffusivity. A literature review reveals that the existing knowledge of the processes involved in the dissolution of both Fe and Mn in liquid Al is rather ambiguous. Thus, this work aimed to obtain more detailed insights into the dissolution behavior of Mn and Fe in various Al melts. The results of the Mn dissolution tests showed that three intermediate phases were involved in the dissolution process, all of which exhibited a smooth interface between Mn and the liquid. These three phases were identified as the γ2, Al11Mn4, and µ phases which grow slowly, penetrating the Mn particles. The results of the Fe dissolution tests showed that in pure Al, the Al5Fe2 phase dominates the dissolution process and penetrates the Fe particles. The addition of Ti into the molten Al alters the intermetallic compound formation by replacing Al5Fe2 by Al2Fe. The addition of Si significantly inhibited the Fe dissolution kinetics. A theoretical approach based on Ficks’ law was used to explain the experimentally obtained Mn and Fe dissolution rates. It showed that the surface area and shape of the additives significantly affected the dissolution processes.