The age behavior of both as-cast and solid solution tr eated (T6) Al8Si0.4Mg alloys was studied by hardness measurement
differential s canning calorimetry (DSC)
electron probe micro analysis and TEM. Hardness measu rement indicated that as-cast alloy exhibited remarkable age harderning effect
having microhardness peak value lower than T6 treated alloy only by 6 HV. No ob vious effect of cooling rate on age hardening appeared. DSC and TEM analysis results showed that the age hardening for both alloys was attributed to the precipitatio n of metastable β″ and β′phases to strengthen the matrix. The distribution o f precipitated phases and the homogeneity coefficient of mciro-hardnessg for bo th alloys have been discussed.