Papers by Keyword: Hot Tearing

Abstract: Hot tearing is a significant problem upon direct-chill casting of high-strength aluminum alloys. The occurrence of hot cracks is related to the thermal contraction of the solid phase and to the lack of feeding by the liquid phase during solidification. It has been identified that structure features such as grain size and amount of nonequilibrium eutectics influence both phenomena involved in hot tearing. Experimental and computer-simulation results are presented for a range of model and commercial aluminum alloys. The results are obtained both during special small-scale experiments and during industrial-scale direct-chill casting. It is shown that grain refinement reduces hot tearing susceptibility of aluminum alloys through the related decrease of the temperature of thermal contraction onset and increased permeability of the mushy zone. The effects of process parameters on hot tearing are also discussed.

Abstract: The effect of Fe content on hot tearing of the high-strength Al-Mg-Si alloy was systematically investigated. In this study, a thermodynamic calculation software Thermo-Calc was used to calculate the solidification path under the non-equilibrium condition, and the mechanical properties of this alloy have also been investigated during solidification using an electromagnetic induction heating tensile machine. In order to confirm the calculation results of solidification path, a quenching test also was carried out. By using the Thermo-Calc, the sequence of crystallization, crystallization temperature of formed phases and their crystallized amount were systematically investigated for each alloy in which Fe content was changed. Furthermore, by comparing the fracture surfaces of the tensile testing sample and DC billet, the temperature range of crack initiation of the alloy was examined. Comparing the temperature range of crack initiation with the crystallization phase and its crystallization order, Fe content of high-strength Al-Mg-Si alloy influenced hot tearing significantly owing to the crystallization behavior of α(AlFeMn).

Abstract: Aluminum-copper alloys offer both high strength and excellent ductility suitable for a number of automotive applications to reduce vehicle weight; however, the alloys are difficult to cast because of their tendency for hot tearing. In this work, semi-solid gravity casting of an aluminum-copper alloy, B206, was conducted in constrained rod casting molds to study the feasibility of using the process to reduce or eliminate hot tearing. To demonstrate the feasibility of gravity casting of the metal slurries, a fluidity test was also conducted. Results show that the hot tearing susceptibility of the aluminum-copper B206 alloy cast in semi-solid state is lower than those cast in liquid state with high superheat temperatures. The grain size of the semi-solid cast Al-Cu samples appears to be finer than those cast in liquid state with high superheat temperatures. In addition, the metal slurries had sufficient fluidity to fill the molds even with low gravity pressures. The results suggest that semi-solid gravity casting is a feasible process to help reduce hot tearing.

Abstract: Aluminium alloys during solidification change their density. This process can be conditionally divided into two stages: solidification shrinkage due to the density difference between liquid and solid phases and thermal contraction due to the temperature dependence of the solid density. Solidification shrinkage is the main cause of porosity in castings and also plays an essential role in the development of macrosegregation, whereas thermal contraction is important for the development of hot and cold cracks and is responsible for shape distortions during casting. An experimental technique has been developed and applied to binary Al–Cu alloys in order to quantify the thermal contraction in the solidification range and at subsolidus temperatures. It is shown that thermal contraction of aluminium alloys starts at rather high fractions of solid, between 80 and 95%. The experimentally determined temperature of contraction onset agrees well with the temperature at which the mushy material acquires the ability to transfer stresses. The magnitude of contraction accumulated in the solidification range corresponds well to hot tearing susceptibility of the alloy. Factors that decrease the temperature of contraction onset and the magnitude of contraction, e.g. grain refinement, are also known to decrease hot tearing. The data on the temperature at which the thermal contraction starts, on the magnitude of the contraction, and on the thermal contraction coefficient are used to model hot tearing and shape distortions during casting.

Abstract: Using modifications to the Rappaz-Drezet-Gremaud hot tearing model, and using empirical equations developed for grain size and dendrite arm spacing (DAS) on the addition of grain refiner for a range of cooling rates, the effect of grain refinement and cooling rate on hot tearing susceptibility has been analysed. It was found that grain refinement decreased the grain size and made the grain morphology more globular. Therefore refining the grain size of an equiaxed dendritic grain decreased the hot tearing susceptibility. However, when the alloy was grain refined such that globular grain morphologies where obtained, further grain refinement increased the hot tearing susceptibility. Increasing the cooling decreased the grain size and made the grain morphology more dendritic and therefore increased the likelihood of hot tearing. The effect was particularly strong for equiaxed dendritic grain morphologies; hence grain refinement is increasingly important at high cooling rates to obtain more globular grain morphologies to reduce the hot tearing susceptibility.

Abstract: The formation of eutectics in Al–Zn–Mg–Ni and Al–Zn–Mg–Si systems is studied by means of metallography, DSC, EPMA, X-ray spectroscopy and thermodynamical calculations. Polythermal sections of the corresponding phase diagrams are constructed. The concentrations and temperatures of binary eutectic reactions L → (Al) + Al3Ni and L → (Al) + Mg2Si in quaternary alloys are determined. Nonequilibrium solidification in Al–7% Zn–3% Mg-based alloys ceases at approximately 480 °C. The alloys close by composition to binary eutectics have considerably improved casting properties as compared to the base Al–7% Zn–3% Mg composition. In particular, hot tearing susceptibility is much less in alloys with Al3Ni or Mg2Si. These results are corroborated by measurements of thermal contraction during solidification. The alloys containing binary eutectics exhibit much lower temperatures of contraction onset and less thermal strain is accumulated in the solidification range. Fine eutectic morphology enables fragmentation and spheroidization of intermetallic particles during annealing. The presence of Al3Ni and Mg2Si particles does not decrease the precipitation hardening effect associated with precipitation of the T′ (AlMgZn) phase. Improved casting properties and good mechanical properties of castings allow the application of Al–Zn–Mg alloys with binary eutectics formed by Al3Ni or Mg2Si as foundry alloys.

Abstract: Hot cracking of ternary Mg-Al-Ca alloys in permanent mold casting was studied. The alloys are the base of some potential creep-resistant Mg alloys. The Mg-xAl-yCa alloys included Mg-4Al-1Ca, Mg-4Al-2Ca, Mg-4Al-3Ca, Mg-4Al-4Ca, Mg-5Al-3Ca, and Mg-6Al-3Ca. Constrained-rod casting was conducted with a steel mold. Rods were cast with their ends enlarged to act as anchors, which kept the rods from free contraction and thus induced tension in the rods to cause cracking during solidification. The susceptibility to hot cracking was evaluated based on both the widths and locations of cracks in the resultant castings. Both binary Mg-4Al and commercial alloy AZ91E, which is known to have a low susceptibility to hot cracking, were also included for comparison. It was found that within the composition range studied, the crack susceptibility decreased significantly with increasing Ca content (y) but did not change much with the Al content (x).