Abstract: A pulsed-magnetic field with a magnetic induction intensity of 33 mT was applied to A356 aluminum alloy during solution treatment at 540 ℃ to study the effect of pulsed-magnetic field on the microstructure and mechanical properties. The tensile test was conducted using an electronic universal testing machine, and the microstructure and fracture morphology of the A356 aluminum alloy were observed using OM and SEM. The results show that compared with traditional solution treatment, the grain refinement phenomenon of the A356 aluminum alloy after pulsed-magnetic field solution treatment is obvious, and the average size, average area, and SDAS value of eutectic silicon decrease, while the quantity increases. When the pulsed-magnetic field solution treatment time of the A356 aluminum alloy is 40 min, there is no significant difference in mechanical properties compared to traditional solution treatment, and the strength is slightly improved. Compared with traditional solution treatment, the pulsed-magnetic field solution treatment can significantly shorten the solution treatment time while refining the grains. When the pulsed-magnetic field solution treatment time is 40 min, the process time is reduced by 91.11% compared with the traditional solution treatment, greatly improving production efficiency.

Key words: A356 aluminum alloy, pulsed-magnetic field, solution treatment, microstructure, mechanical properties