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Thermoelectric generators are an excellent option for waste heat reuse. Materials for such devices have seen their thermoelectric properties improving constantly. The functioning of a generator, however, does not only depend on thermoelectric properties. Thermal and mechanical properties play a decisive role in the feasibility of any thermoelectric generator. To shed light on the properties exhibited by thermoelectric materials, we present the temperature dependent characterization of Young’s modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion for Mg2Si0.3Sn0.7. Comparing undoped to Bi-doped n-type and Li-doped p-type material, we investigated the influence of doping in the relevant temperature regime and found the influences to be minor, proving similar properties for n- and p-type. We found a Young’s modulus of 84 GPa for the p-type and 83 GPa for the n-type, similar to that of the undoped compound with 85 GPa. The thermal expansion coefficients of undoped, as well as n- and p-type were equally similar with values ranging from 16.5 to 17.5 × 10−6 1/K. A phase analysis was performed to further compare the two materials, finding a similar phase distribution and microstructure. Finally, using the gathered data, estimations on the possible thermally induced stresses under a temperature difference are provided to evaluate the relevance of knowing temperature dependent thermal and mechanical properties.

The new in situ fabrication process for Mg-Mg2Si composites composed of interpenetrating metal/intermetallic phases via powder metallurgy was characterized. To obtain the designed composite microstructure, variable nanosilicon ((n)Si) (i.e., 2, 4, and 6 vol.% (n)Si) concentrations were mixed with magnesium powders. The mixture was ordered using a sonic method. The powder mixture morphologies were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and heating and cooling-induced thermal effects were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Composite sinters were fabricated by hot-pressing the powders under a vacuum of 2.8 Pa. Shifts in the sintering temperature resulted in two observable microstructures: (1) the presence of Mg2Si and MgO intermetallic phases in α-Mg (580 °C); and (2) Mg2Si intermetallic phases in the α-Mg matrix enriched with bands of refined MgO (640 °C). Materials were characterized by light microscopy (LM) with quantitative metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), open porosity measurements, hardness testing, microhardness testing, and nanoindentation. The results revealed that (n)Si in applied sintering conditions ensured the formation of globular and very fine Mg2Si particles. The particles bonded with each other to form an intermetallic network. The volume fraction of this network increased with (n)Si concentration but was dependent on sintering temperature. Increasing sintering temperature intensified magnesium vaporization, affecting the composite formation mechanism and increasing the volume fraction of silicide.

The bonding strength of a Gr/Mg2Si interface was calculated by first principles. Graphene can form a stable, completely coherent interface with Mg2Si. When the (0001) Gr/(001) Mg2Si crystal plane is combined, the mismatch degree is 5.394%, which conforms to the two-dimensional lattice mismatch theory. At the interface between Gr/Mg2Si, chemical bonds were not formed, there was only a strong van der Waals force, the interfaces composed of three low index surfaces (001), (011) and (111) of Mg2Si and Gr (0001) have smaller interfacial adhesion work and larger interfacial energy, the interfacial energy of Gr/Mg2Si is much larger than that of α-Al/Al melt and Gr/Al interfacial (0.15 J/m2, 0.16 J/m2), and the interface distance of a stable interface is larger than the bond length of a chemical bond. The interface charge density difference diagram and density of states curve show that there is only strong van der Waals force in a Gr/Mg2Si interface. Therefore, when the Gr/AlSi10Mg composite is stressed and deformed, the Gr/Mg2Si interface in the composite is easy to separate and become the crack propagation source. The Gr/Mg2Si interface should be avoided in the preparation of Gr/AlSi10Mg composite.

The influence of AlFeSi and Mg2Si phases on corrosion behaviour of the cast 6061 aluminium alloy was investigated. Scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and in situ observations by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used. It was found that Mg2Si phases were anodic relative to the matrix and dissolved preferentially without significantly affecting corrosion propagation. The AlFeSi phases’ influence on 6061 aluminium alloy local corrosion was greater than that of the Mg2Si phases. The corroded region width reached five times that of the AlFeSi phase, and the accelerating effect was terminated as the AlFeSi dissolved.

In the current study, the effect of different B4C additions (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 wt%) on the microstructural, solidification behavior, mechanical, and tribological properties of Al-20%Mg2Si composite were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vickers hardness, tensile, and dry sliding wear tests. The cooling curve thermal analysis (CCTA) approach was utilized to monitor the influence of B4C particles on the solidification behavior of Al-20%Mg2Si composite. The results revealed that the addition of B4C particles up to 10 wt% reduced the nucleation temperature (TN) and growth temperature (TG) of the primary Mg2Si phase. Moreover, the proper amount of B4C added to Al-20%Mg2Si composite has a significant effect on the microstructural alteration, mechanical, and tribological properties of the composite. The mean size of primary Mg2Si in Al-Mg2Si composite was 47 μm, in which with the addition of 5 wt% B4C, the particle size decreased to 33 μm. The highest UTS (217 MPa) and El% (7%) was achieved in Al-20%Mg2Si-5%B4C hybrid composite. The cast Al-20%Mg2Si composite revealed the brittle mode of fracture with some cleavage characterization, in which with the addition of 5%B4C, the fracture mode altered to a more ductile fracture. The wear results revealed that the Al-20%Mg2Si-5%B4C hybrid composite has the highest wear resistance with the lowest wear rate (0.46 mm3/Km) and friction coefficient (µ = 0.52) under 20 N applied load compared to other fabricated composites with mild abrasion as the governed wear mechanism.

The current study focusses on the phase composition, solidification path, and microstructure evaluation of gravity cast Al-4Mg-0.5Si-xLa aluminum alloy, where x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 wt.% La. A computational CalPhaD approach implemented in Thermo-Calc software and scanning electron microscopy technique equipped with electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) was employed to assess its above-mentioned characteristics. The thermodynamic analysis showed that the equilibrium solidification path of La-containing Al-Mg-Si alloys consists of only binary phases LaSi2 and Mg2Si precipitation along with &alpha, Al from the liquid and further solid-state transformation of this mixture into &alpha, Al + Al11La3 + Mg2Si + Al3Mg2 composition. Scheil&ndash, Gulliver simulation showed a similar solidification pathway but was accompanied by an increase in the solidification range (from ~55 &deg, C to 210 &deg, C). Furthermore, microstructural observations were congruent with the calculated fraction of phases at 560 &deg, C and related to &alpha, Al + LaSi2 + Mg2Si three-phase region in terms of formation of La-rich phase having both eliminating effect on the eutectic Mg2Si phase. Quantitative EMPA analysis and elemental mapping revealed that the La-rich phase included Al, La, and Si and may be described as Al2LaSi2 phase. This phase shows a visible modifying effect on the eutectic Mg2Si phase, likely due to absorbing on the liquid/solid interface.

The problem of preparing a ternary powder mixture, which was meant to fabricate sintered heterophase composite, and consisted of micro- and two nanosized powders, was analyzed. The microsized powder was a pure magnesium, and as nanocomponents, a silicon powder (nSi) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with 2% and 1% volume fractions, respectively, were applied. The powder mixtures were prepared using ultrasonic and mechanical mixing in technological fluid, and four mixing variants were applied. The morphology of the powder mixtures was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and then, composite sinters were fabricated in a vacuum with hot temperature pressing at 580 &deg, C under 15 MPa pressure, using a Degussa press. The reaction between the nSi and the Mg matrix, which caused the creation of the Mg2Si phase in the fabricated Mg-Mg2Si-CNT composite, was confirmed with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The porosity and hardness of the composite sinters were examined, and optical microscopy (OM) and quantitative image analyses were carried out to characterize the microstructure of the composites. In the manufacturing process of the Mg-nSi-CNT mixtures, the best results were the following: first separate de-agglomeration of nanocomponents, then their common mixing, and finally, the deposition of nanocomponents at the surface of the microsized magnesium powder. The applied procedure ensured the uniform layer formation of de-agglomerated nanocomponents on the Mg powder, without re-agglomerated nSi and CNTs. Moreover, this type of powder mixture morphology allows to obtain sinters with lower porosity and higher hardness, which is accompanied by precipitation of a finer Mg2Si phase. In the Mg-Mg2Si-CNT composite, the carbon phase was present, and it was located in the magnesium matrix and in silicide.

The properties of Al-Cu-Mg alloys simultaneously depend on dissolving the maximum amount of Cu and Mg in the solution treatment and on achieving optimal ageing. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect on an Al-Cu4.5-Mg1.5-Si0.75 alloy, manufactured by continuous casting and hot rolling until achieving a reduction in its cross-section greater than 90%, of the dwell time at the solution temperature, 495 &deg, C (4, 8, and 24 h), of the different ageing temperatures (160, 180, and 200 &deg, C), and of cold rolling prior to ageing. The microstructural variations underwent the material during its manufacturing process, form its continuous casting to subsequent hot rolling, were analyzed by means of optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), with characteristic energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis. The crystalline phases present after the different solution and natural ageing treatments were identified and quantified by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), concluding that Mg is easier to dissolve than Cu. The transient states associated with the Mg2Si phase are the most abundant. However, the longer the dwell time at the solution temperature, the greater the weight percentage of the transient states associated with the Al2Cu phase during ageing. The higher the ageing temperature, the faster the peak hardness is reached, but the lower its value. The ageing temperature that allows the highest hardness to be obtained was 160 &deg, C. The maximum hardness value reached was 162 HV, obtained after a solution treatment at 495 &deg, C for 4 h and ageing at 160 &deg, C for 50 h. By means of prior cold rolling, the peak hardness values are reached more quickly and their values slightly exceed those obtained without this deformation. With ageing at 180 &deg, C, 168 HV are reached after 6 h at this temperature.