Overview
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ABSTRACT
This article summarizes the quality criteria of aluminum foundry alloys, such as chemical composition, inclusion cleanliness, gas injection, aging, changes in the eutectic structure, and homogeneity. It describes the basic rules of melting and the metallurgical treatments that make it possible to adequately meet these criteria, as well as the corresponding inspection methods. To conclude, current means of industrial melting are addressed.
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Michel GARAT: ESPCI engineer - Consulting engineer
INTRODUCTION
Aluminium's properties have been evident since it first appeared among industrial metals at the end of the 19th century: low density, good mechanical properties, excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, good corrosion resistance, easy machining, good appearance properties. In its pure state, aluminum is used almost exclusively for electrical applications. But it is most often combined with other metals to form a wide range of alloys that are remarkably well-suited to all molding processes and meet a variety of physical, chemical and mechanical property requirements.
Casting alloys used industrially contain at least 50% aluminum by mass, and are made from pure electrolytic metal or recycled aluminum. The properties of these alloys depend on their composition, their structural state, the forming process used and the heat treatments applied to the parts. In particular, aluminum is highly sensitive to oxidation and requires special precautions when processed in its liquid state.
After defining the nature of aluminum alloys, their properties in terms of casting behavior and their technical characteristics, this article describes all the care to be taken during melting operations to meet the required metallurgical quality criteria.
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The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference
KEYWORDS
panorama | process | automobile | electronics | aluminium alloys | foundry
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Metal forming and foundry
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Aluminium alloy melting
Bibliography
Technical documentation
Brochure ANALYZE IT ALSCAN TM published by ABB, reference AlSCAN B4195 2004-10.
Brochure ANALYZE IT PoDFA published by ABB, reference PoDFA B4198 2004-11.
Insertec technical documentation :
Standards
- Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Aluminium alloy ingots for remelting. - NF EN 1676 - mai 2010
- Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Moulded parts. - NF EN 1706 - mai 2010
- Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Designation. - NF EN 1780 -
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The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference