An Overview of the Development of Al-Si-Alloy Based Material for Engine Applications

The development of Al-Si alloy and its based material for engine application is reported in this paper, focusing on improving the material’s fatigue limit and wear resistance, which are two important properties for engine block materials. The paper begins with a description of the microstructure (primary and eutectic phases, intermetallics, and casting defects) of Al-Si alloy and its effects on this material’s fatigue and wear behaviors. Then, some recent techniques to enhance these two properties are discussed such as alloying, composite production, and casting.