2. Experimental procedureCommercial A356 alloy with a nominal composition of Al–6.92Si–0.29Mg–0.18Ti–0.099Fe was melted in an electrical resistance furnace, and the melt was refined using C2Cl6 (0.5 wt.% of the master alloy) and then degassed by pure Ar with a constant flow rate of 1.8 L/min. Later, Ce-rich MM, including 62.5Ce, 35.2La, and balance other rare earth element, was added into the melt in amounts ranging from 0.1 to 0.9 wt.% in step of per 0.2 wt.%. During this process, the melt was stirred continuously in order to ensure the uniform distribution. The melt was kept at 725 ± 5 °C for 20 min, and then it was poured into the pre-heated metal mould of about 300 °C. The as-cast sample size is of 18 mm in diameter and 130 mm in height. After casting, all the samples were subject to a T6 heat treatment. The heat treatment allows to dissolve Mg2Si, homogenize the solid solution and to spherodise the eutectic silicon. The solution treatment was carried out at 535 °C for 8 h followed by quenching immediately in water at room temperature, and then artificial aging at 160 °C for 6 h followed by air cooling.