The composition and structural modification of high-aluminum zinc alloys and high-zinc aluminum alloys influence their wear properties and structural stability. The work described has been aimed at improving properties of the sand-cast Al-Zn-based foundry alloys, particularly their ductility and dimensional stability, by melt inoculation and/or change of chemical composition. In a series of studies, high-aluminum Zn-(25-26) wt.% Al-(1-2.5) wt.% Cu and high-zinc Al-(27-30) wt.% Zn-(1.5-2.5) wt.% Cu alloys have been doped with different levels of added Ti and Mn. The alloys’ structure and mechanical properties have been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy (LM), dilatometry and pin-on-disk wear measurements. A small addition of Ti introduced with Zn-4Ti master alloy leads to significant grain refinement of the high-aluminum zinc alloys. A small addition of Ti introduced with Al-3Ti-0.15C master alloy leads to significant grain refinement of the high-zinc aluminum alloys. In the ternary alloys, partially replacing Cu with Ti and/or Mn allows dimensional changes to be reduced while preserving good wear properties.

Properties and structural stability. In a series of studies, Zn - (25-26) wt.% Al - (1-2.5) wt.% Cu alloys have been doped with different levels of added Ti. The alloys’ structure and mechanical properties have been studied using: SEM (scanning electron microscopy), LM (light microscopy), Dilatometry, Pin-on-Disc wear and Strength measurements. Grain refinement leads to significant improvement of ductility in the binary Zn-25Al alloy. In the ternary alloys Zn-26Al-Cu, replacing a part of Cu with Ti allows dimensional changes to be reduced while preserving good tribological properties.