Skip to main content

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Automotive Components Die Cast with Secondary Aluminum Alloys by SEED Semi-Solid Process

  • Chapter
Shape Casting: 5th International Symposium 2014

Abstract

The microstructure and mechanical properties of an automotive component die-cast by Swirled Enthalpy Equilibration Device process are analyzed. Two secondary aluminum alloys have been used, AlSi7Cu3Mg and AlSi9Cu3(Fe) alloys. The castings have been investigated by means of computer tomography to evaluate the concentration and distribution of casting defects, especially in the regions of thick wall thickness. Microstructural investigation has been carried out by means of optical microscope and image analysis technique. The results reveal a not uniform distribution of primary α-Al globules throughout the casting, with a solid fraction ranging from 48 to 58%, and eutectic segregation phenomena. The castings have been mapped in terms of mechanical properties and quality index. The variation of the mechanical properties reflects the presence of local casting defects and alloying segregation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. E.J. Vinarcik, High Integrity Die Casting Processes (New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2003), 3–12.

    Google Scholar 

  2. D.H. Kirkwood et al., Semi-solid Processing of Alloys (Berlin Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag, 2010), 109–168.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. M.E. Schlesinger, Aluminum Recycling (Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2007), 176–192.

    Google Scholar 

  4. D. Doutre, G. Hay and P. Wales, Semi-solid concentration processing of metallic alloys (US Patent No. 6,428,636, August 6 2002).

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. Langlais and A. Lemieux, “The SEED Technology for Semi-Solid Processing of Aluminum Alloys: A Metallurgical and Process Overview”, Solid State Phenomena, 116–117 (2006), 472–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. C.H. Câceres, A Rationale for the Quality Index of Al-Si-Mg Casting Alloys, Int. J. Cast Met. Res., 10 (1998), 293–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. F. Piasentini, F. Bonollo and A. Tiziani, Fourier thermal analysis applied to sodium eutectic modification of an Al-Si7 alloy, Metal. Sci. Technol., 23 (2005), 11–20.

    Google Scholar 

  8. L. Heusler and W. Schneider, Influence of alloying elements on the thermal analysis results of Al-Si cast alloys, J. Light Met. 2 (2002), 17–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. P.K. Seo, D.U. Kim and CG. Kang, Effects of die shape and injection conditions proposed with numerical integration design on liquid segregation and mechanical properties in semi­solid die casting process, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 176 (2006) 45–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. CM. Gourlay, H.I. Laukli and A.K. Dahle, Defect Band Characteristics in Mg-Al and Al-Si High-Pressure Die Castings, Metall. Mater. Trans. A 38 (2007) 1833–1844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M. Makhlouf and D. Apelian, “Casting characteristics of aluminum die casting alloys” (Report DEFC07–99ID13716, WPI, 2002).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. J.L. Jorstad, Understanding sludge, Die Cast. Eng. 11/12 (1986) 30–36.

    Google Scholar 

  13. A. Flores et al., “Kinetics of the formation, growth and sedimentation of the phase Ali5Fe,Mn3Si2 in Al-Si-Cu alloys” (Paper presented at the Int. Die Casting Congress and Exposition, Detroit, Michigan, USA, 30 Sept. – 3 Oct. 1991), 293–297.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Timelli, G., Capuzzi, S., Ferraro, S., Fabrizi, A., Capra, L. (2014). Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Automotive Components Die Cast with Secondary Aluminum Alloys by SEED Semi-Solid Process. In: Tiryakioğlu, M., Campbell, J., Byczynski, G. (eds) Shape Casting: 5th International Symposium 2014. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48130-2_27

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics