Casting and Homogenization of AlCu3.3Mg1.5Mn Alloy for Aircraft Industry

Abstract:

Heat treatable aluminum alloys and other alloys with similar properties are the most widely used light alloys in aeronautical construction [1-3]. These alloys have (i) high resistance to crack initiation and propagation, (ii) resistance to developing a strong lift force of the wings, (iii) high temperature, (iv)creep and fatigue vibration resistance. These age hardening Al alloys, are designed to take the mechanical stresses of the aircraft during flight. To achieve and continually improve these characteristics are necessary studies and researches on optimizing the manufacturing technological process of these types of Al alloys. This paper presents theoretical and experimental development of aluminum prealloys and high purity 2xxx Al alloys series elaboration for the aviation industry. We aimed to obtain higher energy efficiency, a better protection against gases, development of melt refining decontamination during casting. We are taking into account that the AlCu3.3Mg1.5Mn alloy has in chemical composition besides the alloying elements also a limited percentage of impurities (eg. 0.15% Si and 0.20% Fe), impurities difficult to remove from molten aluminum. In these conditions, the manufacturing processing requires some precautions such as: cleaning melting furnace and the correct choice of materials composing the charge in order to prevent contamination of the bath. The casted and homogenized Al alloys were analyzed in terms of composition and microstructure.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 1128)
• Pages: 44-50
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1128.44
• Online since: October 2015
• Authors: Vasile Bratu, Ileana Nicoleta Popescu*, Elena Valentina Stoian, Dan Nicolae Ungureanu, Carmen Otilia Rusanescu, Lucica Grigora Toma, Adrian Catalin Voicu
• Keywords: Casting, Chemical Analysis, High Purity 2xxx Al Alloy, Homogenisation, Microstructural Analysis

References

[1] M. Rosso, I. Peter, Defect Control on Al Castings for Excellent Quality and Improved Performances through Novel Rheocasting Processes, Proc. TMS 1 (2012) 403-410.

DOI: 10.1002/9781118357002.ch52

[2] H. J. Schmidt, B. Schmidt-Brandecker, Aluminium casting, Proc. ICAA13 1 (2012) 461-470.

[3] J. C. Williams, E.A. Starke, Stabilization of metallic supercooled liquid and bulk amorphous alloys Acta Materialia 51 (2003) 5775–5799.

[4] E. A. Starke, Aluminum castings, Journal of the Japan Institute of Light Metals 51 (2001) 77-85.

[5] V. Bratu, I.N. Popescu, Variation of mechanical properties with temperature for an ecomaterial J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater., 15 (2013) 853 – 857.

[6] F.V. Anghelina, V. Bratu, E.V. Stoian, I. N. Popescu, submitted to Advanced Materials Research: (2014).

[7] G. Popescu, I. Gheorghe, F. Dănilă, P. Moldovan, Vacuum Degassing of Aluminium Alloys, Materials Science Forum 217-222 (1996) 147-152.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.217-222.147

[8] I. Lichioiu, I. Peter, B. Varga, M. Rosso, Preparation and Structural Characterization of Rapidly Solidified Al–Cu Alloys, J. Mater. Sci. & Technol. 30 (2014) 394-400.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2013.12.001

[9] C. Nicolicescu, M. Ciobanu., L. Leonat, Influence of the Mechanical Alloying Parameters on the Elaboration of Sic/Al Nanocomposite Powders, Materials Science Forum 672 (2011) 219-222.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.672.219

[10] J.C. Jacquet, M. Heckler, Aluminium casting and alloys, Aluminium RFG 59 (1982) 340-345.

[11] I.N. Popescu. V. Bratu, M. Rosso, C. Popescu, E. V. Stoian, Designing and continuous extrusion forming of Al-Mg-Si contact lines for electric railway, J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater 15 (2013) 712-717.

[12] C. O. Rusănescu. M. Rusănescu, The influence of the residual copper on the pipes steel hot plasticity according to environmental requirements, J. Min. Metall. Sect. B-Metall. 49 B (2013) 353 – 356.

DOI: 10.2298/jmmb130124036r

[13] C. O. Rusănescu. M. Rusănescu. T. Iordănescu. F. V. Anghelina, Mathematical relationships between alloying elements and technological deformability indexes, J. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater 15 (2013) 718 – 723.

[14] I.N. Popescu, R. Vidu, V. Bratu, A.B. Olei, D.N. Ungureanu, F.V. Anghelina, Effects of Silicon Carbide Proportion and Artificial Aging Parameters on Microstructure and Hardness of Al-Cu/SiCp Composites, Solid State Phenomena 216 (2014) 122-127.

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.216.122

[15] BS EN 2048: 2001 Aerospace series. Extruded L-section in aluminium alloys. Dimensions.

[16] Gh. Ioniţă. L. G. Toma, Elaboration of non-ferrous alloys, experimental works and applications (in Romanian), Macarie Press, Targoviste, (1996).

[17] I. Minkoff, Solidification and cast structure, Wiley, New York, (1986).

[18] T.M. Moltev, Modification of the metals structure. (in Romanian translated from Russian), Bucharest, Ed. Tehnica, (1966).

[19] I. Dragomir, V. Bratu, Structura şi proprietăţile topiturilor metalice/ The structure and properties of the molten metal (in Romanian) Macarie press, Târgovişte. (2002).

[20] D. M. Stefanescu, Science and Engineering of Casting Solidification, Springer, 2nd Ed. Berlin, (2009).

[21] A. Gaba, A. Catangiu, V.F. Anghelina, Design and experimental results of high temperature tundish heater, Metall. Int. 14 (2009) 61–65.

[22] A. R. Eivani, J. Zhou, J. Duszczyk, Recent Trends in Processing and Degradation of Aluminium Alloys, Edited by. Zaki Ahmad, pp.478-514.

[23] V. Bratu, I.N. Popescu, FV Anghelina, D.N. Ungureanu, M.C. Enescu, Determination of solidification front'position by using tungsten at continuous casting of lead-based non-ferrous semi-products, Metalurgia International 16 (4) 81-84.

[24] I. Peter, M. Rosso, Aluminium alloys, Proc. ICAA13 1 (2012) 177-182.