Diving into the metallurgical reactions and phase diagrams of each element with

aluminum is a detailed and complex topic. Phase diagrams illustrate the stability
regions of different phases based on varying compositions and temperatures. They're
crucial for understanding the microstructural evolution of an alloy system and
predicting the resultant properties. Here's a concise overview:

Aluminum-Silicon (Al-Si):
Reaction: The primary eutectic reaction for the Al-Si system occurs at
about 11.7% Si and 577°C: L→α+Al2SiL→α+Al2Si.
Phase Diagram: The Al-Si phase diagram is characterized by a eutectic point
at 11.7% Si. Silicon improves fluidity and reduces shrinkage, making it ideal for
casting applications.

Aluminum-Magnesium (Al-Mg):
Reaction: The solubility of Mg in Al is around 17.4% at 450°C, but it
decreases at lower temperatures.
Phase Diagram: Al-Mg is characterized by a continuous series of solid
solutions. Precipitation hardening can occur in certain alloys, forming the β′β′
(Al3Mg2) and ββ (Al12Mg17) phases.

Aluminum-Copper (Al-Cu):
Reaction: The eutectic reaction for this system occurs at about 5.4% Cu and
548°C: L→α+θL→α+θ (where θθ is Al2Cu).
Phase Diagram: Al-Cu has a eutectic system. Age hardening or precipitation
hardening is significant in this system, leading to phases like θ′θ′ and θ′′θ′′ in
the age-hardening process.

Aluminum-Manganese (Al-Mn):
Reaction: Mn has limited solubility in Al, and the primary phase formed in
excess is Al6Mn.
Phase Diagram: Al-Mn is characterized by a simple peritectic system. The
solubility of Mn in Al is very low, leading to the formation of intermetallic
compounds at higher Mn content.

Aluminum-Chromium (Al-Cr):
Reaction: The solubility of Cr in Al is extremely low, and primary
intermetallics like Al4Cr form.
Phase Diagram: The Al-Cr system is also characterized by limited
solubility, with a peritectic reaction dominating the phase formation.

Aluminum-Zinc (Al-Zn):
Reaction: The eutectic reaction is around 1.25% Zn and 381°C: L→α+ηL→α+η
(where ηη is Zn).
Phase Diagram: The Al-Zn phase diagram is quite complex with several
intermetallics. However, the most dominant phase for strengthening is the ηη phase
in age-hardened Al-Zn-Mg alloys.

To obtain the actual phase diagrams and detailed microstructural evolutions, one
would typically consult metallurgical databases or reference books on physical
metallurgy. Analyzing phase diagrams requires expertise in the field, as they
contain rich information about solid solubility, phase transformations, and
thermodynamics. If you wish to delve deeper or need further explanation on a
specific alloy system, please let me know!
Eng. Kareem Mohamed