Materials Science Forum Vols. 618-619

Abstract: Accumulative Roll Bonding (ARB) is a severe plastic deformation technique for producing ultra-fine grain structures in sheet metal. In this investigation, the through-thickness shear strain distribution during single pass rolling of roll-bonded aluminium sheets was monitored via the deflection of an embedded scratch on the through-thickness, pre-polished surface of the material. It was found that, near the sheet surface and at its mid-thickness, rolling generated severe and moderate shearing, respectively. Such shearing was found to have a strong influence on the microstructure and crystallographic texture of the material, which was eliminated during subsequent rolling cycles. Compared to the core of a given rolled layer, both the microstructure and texture at the interface of the layers was inhomogeneous.

Abstract: Within the project “Functional Surfaces via Micro- and Nanoscaled Structures” an investment casting process to produce 3-dimensional functional surfaces down to a structural size of 1µm on near-net-shape-casting parts will be developed. The common way to realise functional microscale features on metallic surfaces is to use laser ablation, electro discharge machining or micro milling. The handicap of these processes is their limited productivity. In order to raise the efficiency, microscale features will be replicated by use of the investment casting process. The main research objective deals with the investigation of the single process steps with regard to the moulding accuracy. Actual results concerning making of the wax pattern and the ceramic mould as well as the casting of an Aluminium alloy will be presented. By using the example of an intake manifold of a gasoline race car engine a technical shark skin surface was defined in order to reduce the drag of the in-coming air. Possible process stategies to realise microscale features on an inner surface of a casting part were developed.

Abstract: A counter-gravity casting equipment (CGCE) has been developed, which is specially designed for the production of large-size thin-walled high-quality aluminum alloy parts with resin sand molds. In this equipment, molten metal will be pushed upward counter-gravity into the mold at predetermined rate by compressed air, and solidified at an increased pressure. The equipment uses assembled valve system developed ourselves, and has sensitive pressure-adjusting property. All of the casting parameters, including filling rate, pressure-exerting sequence, pressure hold time etc., can be closely controlled by a self-designed computer program. Up to 2 ton casting can be produced with the equipment. Compared to the castings produced under conventional gravity conditions, the castings under counter-gravity condition have generally high soundness, higher tensile strengths and ductility. The pinhole defects are also degraded obviously. The equipment and the technology have been widely adopted by several users in China for the production of large-size thin-walled aluminum alloy castings with high property requirements.

Abstract: A new patented casting process is described, based on a precision aggregate mold, bonded with a water-soluble binder. For the first time the twin functions of the mold (i) defining shape and (ii) providing cooling have been successfully separated allowing the production of castings of all sizes and shapes (thin and thick walls) for all Al and Mg alloys. Because solidification and cooling are separately controlled by the application of water a number of advantages follow immediately. The mold is ablated (i.e. eroded) away by the water without fume or dust and the ‘air gap’ is eliminated by direct contact with the water, enhancing the rate of solidification to levels normally unattainable, resulting in significantly enhanced properties. The unusual microstructures of Al-Si alloys having large DAS but micron-sized eutectic silicon indicates, in agreement with earlier predictions, that DAS per se does not control strength or ductility. The process is currently proving itself in commercial operation, having the additional advantages of modest start-up and tooling costs as well as low competitive piece part costs because of the use of low cost materials and the recycling of aggregate and water.

Abstract: Rapid penetration of diesel engines is expected in North America because of their better fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Diesel engine components, particularly cylinder heads, are made of cast irons and replacing them with aluminium alloys could result in a significant weight reduction and consequently better fuel efficiency. Aluminum alloys for diesel engine applications need to withstand higher operating temperatures and pressures as compared to conventional 3xxx based alloys that lose strength above 150oC. This paper presents selected results pertaining to alloy development with improved high temperature performance based on the modified 356 composition. Such alloys with engineered chemical composition and properly designed heat treatment could have improved properties at temperatures up to 250oC. The advanced thermal analysis techniques including dilatometer analysis were used to determine the effect of alloying additions on thermal characteristics including aging kinetics and its impact on casting service performance. Selected structure analysis results including XRD and TEM/EDX as well as elevated temperature tensile testing are presented.

Abstract: Selecting an aluminum die casting alloy for a particular application often poses a challenge to designers and engineers. It is often difficult and sometimes not possible to find an alloy that meets all the requirements of the application; and in other times the alloy can be found, but it has a wide specified compositional range, and thus it exhibits a large variation in properties. Therefore, there is always a need to optimize existing alloys or to develop new alloys so that they meet the requirements of a given application. In order to help with the alloy selection and alloy development processes, we developed an electronic database for aluminum die casting alloys – i-Select-Al. This software can help its user to quickly select an alloy for a specific application from a comprehensive list of commercial alloys. Alternatively, it can help its user with the design of a new alloy to meet the requirements of the application. This paper presents a study in optimizing A380 alloy with the help of i-Select-Al. A380 alloy is the most commonly used die casting alloy, but it has a wide compositional range and therefore a wide range of properties. In this study, we optimized the mechanical properties of A380 alloy by optimizing its chemical composition. The Quality Index was used to quantify the changes in the alloys’ properties in response to changes in chemical composition. Two alloys were designed: one has a composition within the A380 alloy specification, and the other has a composition slightly outside the A380 alloy specification. Both alloys showed significant improvements in room temperature tensile properties and a substantial increase in the Quality Index over a commercially available A380 alloy.

Abstract: This article focuses on the influence of intensification pressure (I.P.) on the feeding through the gate during high pressure die casting (HPDC). Two values of intensification pressure, the lowest and highest possible for the HPDC machine used, were applied to cast AlSi3MgMn tensile-bar specimens. The castings produced with higher I.P. contained a lower total fraction of porosity, as expected. Microstructural characterisation of the gate region showed markedly different features in and adjacent to the gate at the two levels of I.P. used. The microstructures indicate a change in feeding mechanism with increasing I.P. At high I.P. shear band-like features exist through the gate, suggesting that strain localisation in the gate is involved in the feeding of solidification shrinkage during the I.P. stage. At low I.P. such shear bands were not observed in the gates and feeding was less effective, resulting in a higher level of porosity in the HPDC parts.

Abstract: Aluminium-Zinc-Magnesium-Copper, 7075, alloy offers both high strength (comparable with those of alloy steels) and very good ductility which makes this alloy group suitable for many automotive, aerospace and defence applications, however the alloys are difficult to cast because of their tendency for Hot Tearing. The Semi-Solid Metalforming (SSM) casting technique allows for near net shape casting using High-Pressure Diecasting (HPDC). The lower forming temperature reduces the problem of Hot Tearing. The CSIR has developed a rheocasting process which prepares semi-solid slurries from molten metal which can then be formed using HPDC. Since 7075 is a wrought alloy there is limited information on the foundry practice for this alloy. The aim of this study is to determine the foundry practice for 7075 aluminium alloy. Melting trials and optical emission spectroscopy on, AA7075 was conducted to study the effect of metallurgical melting parameters and compositional variations. 7075 Alloy was melted using a resistance melting furnace and compositional variation in the crucible for varying holding times was evaluated to determine the degree of segregation of key alloying elements. Results have shown some compositional variations.

Abstract: Recent breakthroughs in the sintering of aluminium alloys under nitrogen have opened the way for the in-situ fabrication of Al-AlN composites in a controllable and reproducible fashion over a wide range of volume fractions of AlN. This work reviews the fundamentals for the in-situ fabrication of the Al-AlN composites from metal powders and highlights their technical potential for niche applications because of their excellent resistance to cavitation erosion in water and their unusually low friction coefficient under oil lubrication.

Abstract: Electron beam (EB) direct manufacturing is an additive near-net shape digital fabrication process developed recently. The process offers a promising route for the fabrication of intricate speciality aluminium alloy parts for aircraft and aerospace applications because of the excellent energy coupling between an electron beam and aluminium. As part of a fundamental study on EB manufacturing of Al alloys, this work investigates the effect of the EB processing parameters on the development of the molten pool and the solidification characteristics of Al 2219 and Al 6061 alloys. The samples were processed using a 50kV electron beam gun over a wide range of beam currents (10-40mA) and welding speeds (0.3-0.86m/min) in both the static and oscillation focus modes. In the static focus mode, the molten pool is wedge-shaped; while in the oscillation focus mode, the molten pool is hemispherical, wider and shallower. In both cases, the depth and width of the molten pool increase with increasing beam current but they are less affected by the moving speed of the EB gun in the range 0.3-0.86m/min. Electron beam re-melted and subsequently re-solidified Al 2219 and Al 6061 alloys show microstructural features distinct from those obtained under sand casting and direct chill casting conditions. In particular, fine intermetallic precipitates in the size range 100-200nm are prominent in the equiaxed grains formed in the re-solidified weld beads of Al 6061 compared to the coarse intermetallic particles up to 10m in size prior to EB processing. EB processing offers opportunities for aluminium alloy development.