铝(镁)合金消失模铸造近净成形技术研究进展

阐述了铝(镁)合金消失模铸造技术的研究现状,着重介绍了铝(镁)合金消失模铸造在金属液充型、振动凝固、压力凝固以及消失模壳型铸造等技术方面的最新研究进展。研究表明,铝(镁)合金在消失模铸造过程中,需重点解决针孔、缩松等缺陷,提高液态合金的充型能力和铸件的力学性能;通过采用振动凝固和压力凝固的手段,可以提高金属液充型能力、细化组织、提高组织致密性,明显提高铸件力学性能。真空低压消失模壳型铸造技术,可以解决普通消失模铸造易于出现的孔洞和夹杂等缺陷以及浇不足和浇注温度高等问题,是一种生产复杂薄壁高质量铝、镁合金精密铸件的新方法。     

Density and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Lost Foam Casting by Pressurization during Solidification

Porosity is thought to be severe in aluminum alloy castings produced by lost foam process due to the pyrolysis of the polystyrene foam pattern during pouring, which results in detrimental effect in mechanical property. The slow solidification rate promotes the formation of gassing pin holes, and relative weakness of the thermal gradients can cause micro-shrinkage if the outline of the part complicates feeding in the lost foam casting. One of the methods to eliminate the porosity is to apply high pressure to the molten metal like an isostatic forging during solidification. Fundamental experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of the external pressure on the porosity and mechanical properties of A356.2 alloy bar in the lost foam casting. Solidification time and porosity decreased with increasing the applied pressure during solidification. Applying external pressure was effective in decreasing the porosity and increasing the elongation of the lost foam casting.     

真空低压消失模壳型铸造失模工艺优化研究

针对真空低压消失模壳型铸造工艺中采用的薄壳在失模中易于开裂现象,对失模工艺进行系统研究,考察失模方式、温度对薄壳失模的影响,并结合EPS泡沫材料热失重分析和泡沫模温度场分布规律,分析薄壳开裂机制。结果表明:随炉升温失模过程中,型壳失水收缩缓慢,强度逐渐提高,型壳不易开裂;高温400℃以上直接放入失模,型壳放入不久均开裂,主要由于型壳急速失水收缩受阻所致,而经长时间预烘型壳高温直接放入失模,型壳不开裂;低温250~300℃直接放入失模,型壳收缩相对较慢,主要受到泡沫模的膨胀力作用,膨胀力与失模温度,时间及泡沫模有关。得到低温直接放入时模样厚度与失模温度关系式,模样越厚,所需失模温度越低。     

Effect of Process Parameters on Porosity in Aluminum Lost Foam Process

1.IntroductionLost foam casting process is still a new technology,and is gaining confidence among manufacturers[1].It isexpected to dramatically improve the competitiveness ofthe foundry industry.Many advantages like eliminatingmachining steps,making complex casting without coresand reducing environmental loads can be offered by thisprocess,because molding binder is not added into themold of the lost foam process.Aluminum alloy castings are widely used in the auto-mobile and aerospace industri…     

真空增压铸造对Mg-Y-Nd-Gd-Zn-Zr合金工艺性能和力学性能的影响

目的通过真空增压工艺改善Mg-Y-Nd-Gd-Zn-Zr合金的铸造性能和力学性能。方法采用螺旋法、热裂环法、线收缩率测试方法,分别测试了不同真空度、浇注温度、凝固压力下合金的流动性、热裂倾向和收缩率。采用万能拉伸机测试合金的力学性能,采用金相显微镜观察合金的显微组织,采用截线法测量平均晶粒尺寸。结果重力下Mg-Y-Nd-Gd-Zn-Zr合金的螺旋长度为240~270 mm,裂环宽度为10~15 mm;真空下的螺旋长度为245~330 mm,裂环宽度为7.5~12.5 mm;凝固压力从0.2 MPa提升至0.8 MPa,合金的抗拉强度从320 MPa提升至335 MPa,断后伸长率从4.5%提升至6.0%。结论提高真空度、浇注温度,可显著提升合金的充型能力;提高凝固压力、降低浇注温度,可明显降低合金的热裂倾向;凝固压力越高、真空压力转换时间越短,合金的组织越致密,力学性能越高。     

EPS molecular weight and foam density effects in the lost foam process

The effects of pattern molecular weight and density on casting formation in the lost foam process have been studied. The tensile properties of injection molded ASTM D638 tensile rods have been measured for various densities and molecular weights. Thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and other techniques have been used to study the thermal degradation characteristics of the pattern. A thermometric technique has been used to study the mold filling behavior with aluminum alloy A356. The results indicate that the tensile properties in the foam generally improve with increasing molecular weight and density. The structural characteristics of the foam may have a greater influence on mechanical properties than molecular weight. The rate of volatilization of the polymer increases as the weight average molecular weight, M _w, is lowered from 304,000 g/mol to 152,000 g/mol. The mold fill time increases with pattern density and M _w. The data suggest that pattern density and molecular weight may have a significant effect on the quality of the casting.     

精密铸件反重力铸造凝固组织与缺陷控制研究进展

镍基高温合金、钛合金和铝镁合金等精密铸件是航空航天重大装备中重要的热端部件,目前,更高的使用温度、更大的构效比和更高的机动性等航空航天装备建设的需求,促使精密铸件向大型化、复杂化和薄壁化方向发展。反重力铸造技术具有充型稳定、压力可控等优点,是生产优质精密铸件的理想方法。早在20世纪70年代,国外就能够利用反重力精密铸造技术制造大型精密铸件。近年来,我国一些高校和研究院所也相继在反重力铸造方面开展了大量研究,在铝镁轻合金方面积累了大量经验,也具备了小批量生产能力。目前,国内的产品技术水平与国外还有一定的差距,特别是在高温合金反重力铸造方面,国内还处于起步阶段。在精密铸造过程中,疏松、裂纹、变形和尺寸超差等各类铸造缺陷的形成严重影响了铸件的使用性能,降低了铸造产品的合格率。基于此,结合反重力铸造工艺原理及技术特点,概述了反重力铸造技术的应用现状,详细综述了精密铸件反重力铸造过程中组织、缺陷的形成规律和重要的铸造缺陷预测模型,并对反重力铸造技术的发展趋势进行展望。     

EPS bead fusion effects on fold defect formation in lost foam casting of aluminum alloys

The effects of bead fusion in the polymer pattern on fold defect formation in castings produced by the lost foam process have been investigated. Castings of aluminum alloy 319.1 were produced with commercial patterns that were molded with varying levels of bead fusion. Each casting was broken into over 40 pieces to identify the fold defect on the fracture surface. The results indicate that castings produced with patterns with high bead fusion exhibit a greater number and a larger area of folds than parts obtained by using foams with low bead fusion.     

Predictive equations of the tensile properties based on alloy hardness and microstructure for an A356 gravity die cast cylinder head

One of the main problems in the design of complex Al–Si cast components is the wide variety of mechanical properties in different regions of the castings which is due to the wide range of solidification microstructures, related to the local solidification conditions. There are many papers available on the widely used A356/A357 Al–Si–Mg alloys, however, most experimental data on their tensile or fatigue properties are generally obtained from specimens cast separately or produced under controlled laboratory conditions, that are extremely different from those of industrially cast components. Moreover, most of these data often relate the mechanical properties to only one microstructural parameter, such as solidification defects or secondary dendrite arm spacing, and do not take their simultaneous effect into consideration. For all these reasons, the main problem, in the design phase, is the lack of knowledge of the true local mechanical properties in complex-shaped castings, which often means a conservative approach is necessary, with a consequent increase in thickness and therefore in weight. The aim of this research was to study a complex A356 gravity die cast cylinder head, in order to verify the range of variability of the main microstructural parameters and tensile properties, using specimens directly machined from the casting. The component was heat treated at the T6 condition, and the effect of the delay between quenching and aging on the alloy hardness was also evaluated. Simple experimental equations have been proposed, able to successfully predict the local tensile properties in the casting, when only the most important microstructural parameters and alloy hardness are known. These equations allow the designer to predict the local tensile behaviour without any tensile tests; moreover they can also link the post-processing results of the casting simulation software to the pre-processing phase of the structural ones, with an approach of co-engineered design.     

反重力铸造对高强度铝合金凝固组织影响的研究

采用反重力铸造方法生产高强度铝合金铸件已成为航空、航天领域内获得优质构件的重要途径。研究了反重力铸造对高强度铝合金ZL114A和ZL205A铸件凝固组织的影响。结果表明,合金的凝固组织存在着不同的位置效应,对于ZL114A合金铸件,冷端晶粒尺寸最小,靠近浇口处晶粒尺寸粗大。对于ZL205A合金铸件,随距浇口处距离的减少,枝晶间分布的网格状θ(A l2Cu)相逐渐由粗变细,α(Al)枝晶内分布的黑色点状T(Al12CuMn2)相逐渐减少。分析表明,在反重力铸造补缩压力相同的情况下,合金的凝固温度范围不同是造成凝固组织不同位置效应的主要原因。     

T4 热处理对石膏型 AZ91 铸造镁合金组织和性能的影响

用石膏型熔模铸造技术,成功制备了AZ91镁合金铸件.用金相显微镜(OM)、扫描电镜(SEM)、能谱(EDS)以及电子万能实验机等,研究了AZ91镁合金铸态及T4热处理态的显微组织演变和力学性能.结果表明,分布在铸态AZ91镁合金晶界的网状β-Mg17Al12相在T4热处理过程中逐渐溶解,铸态和T4热处理态中均存在大量的A18Mn5化合物,T4处理后,其力学性能显著提高.     

Effects of rheocasting and heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy

The effects of the rheocasting process and T5 heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 alloy were investigated. The results show that the temperature range for the solid-liquid state is roughly between 560 °C and 630 °C, and the solid fraction increases from 0% to 100% with decreasing temperature. The finer microstructure in rheocasting in comparison with the one in conventional casting was attributed to pressure breaking down the secondary dendrite arms, especially for specimens around 600-610 °C. It was proved that rheocasting specimens have improved mechanical properties over the conventional casting ones. Furthermore, the result shows that T5 heat treatment can strengthen A356 alloy, while the plasticity was reduced at the same time.     

Transport Phenomena in the Production and Use of Expanded Polystyrene Patterns in Lost Foam Casting

Experiments were carried out to study the effect of process and design variables on defect formation in the lost foam casting process. Emphasis was placed on the production of expanded polystyrene foam patterns and the use of these patterns to create desired castings. Spatial pattern density variation caused by varying the fill and canister pressure for molds with varying distance between injector and opposing wall was measured. The heat transfer coefficient and gas pressure in the gap between the metal front and the foam pattern were also measured. The study found a close correlation between the production of a uniform pattern and the production of a defect-free casting.     

消失模铸造AZ91镁合金的研究

研究了ZA91镁合金消失模铸造时铸件的厚度,位置和真空度对铸件质量,组织及力学性能的影响,真空度是决定铸件质量的一个关键的工艺因素,无真空时浇注铸件易产生浇不足缺陷,但真空度过大又会导致形成粘砂和气孔等缺陷,真空浇注射明显细化组织,但真空度进一步增大时细化效果野 不明显,铸件显微组织具有很大的壁厚效应,然 位置对组织的影响与是否采用抽真空措施有关,铸件壁厚较小时,铸件的力学性能总体较差,断裂源自Mg/Mg17Al12界面、且主要是以解决理形式的脆性断裂。     

Numerical and Experimental Determination of the Feeding Distance of Aluminum Alloys in Gravity Die Casting Using an Optimized Riser Shape

A finite difference thermal model was utilized to analyze the solidification process and to predict the maximum feeding distance in gravity die casting of aluminum alloys with an optimal riser shape. Predictions are verified experimentally for both pure aluminum and A1-12% Si alloy. The experimental maximum feeding distance for castings made from A1-12% Si alloy in gravity diecastings was found to be 10 times the casting thickness, compared to 9.1 times the casting thickness from numerical predictions. For pure aluminum, the experimental maximum feeding distance was 7 times the casting thickness, compared to 6.2 times the casting thickness from numerical analysis.     

Selectively fibre-reinforced components produced by the modified investment casting process

A process based on the investment casting process (lost wax process) for the production of selectively fibre-reinforced castings has been developed at the Giesserei-Institut in Aachen. Besides the production of simple-shaped test specimens, the production of complex-shaped components has been demonstrated. The adaptation of a core technique allows cavities to be made in the final casting.In addition to the process development itself, the development of a suitable matrix alloy was one of the main targets in the past. Neither commercial alloys nor pure aluminium can be used for selectively reinforced castings owing to insufficient mechanical properties of the fibre-reinforced, or of the unreinforced, section of the casting. Only some alloy compositions of the system Al–Zn–Mg show satisfactory mechanical behaviour in the MMC and in the unreinforced sections.     

Explicit microstructural evolution and electrochemical performance of value added palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle/A356 alloy composite

The explicit microstructural evolution and electrochemical performance of value added palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle/A356 alloy composite produced by double layer feeding-stir casting method was studied. The composites were produced using 0 and 4 wt% palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle. X-ray diffractometer, transmission, scanning electron microscopes and electrochemical analyser were used for the analysis. It was observed that double layer feeding-stir casting method increases the wettiability of the palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle in A356 alloy and decreases the brittle intermetallic phase. Uniform distribution of the palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle in A356 alloy. The mismatch at the interface between the palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle and A356 alloy was 4.26 %. The Al-phase and the palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle were parallel in relationship along the interfaces. Dislocation structure at the interface was visible and coherent with regular arrangement of palm kernel shell ash nanoparticle. The corrosion resistance of the composite was higher than that of the alloy in simulated sea water.     

稀土Er对A356铝合金微观组织和力学性能的影响

针对传统的A356铝合金,添加稀土元素是改善其微观组织并提高力学性能的有效途径。本工作通过示差扫描量热分析(DSC)、X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电镜(SEM)等分析手段来研究稀土Er对铸态A356铝合金组织和性能的影响。结果表明,稀土元素Er是一种能够显著改善A356合金铸态组织的优良变质剂。Er的加入细化了初生α-Al相,二次枝晶间距降低,枝晶臂直径减小,同时对铸态组织中的共晶Si起到了变质作用。当Er含量达到0.4%(质量分数,下同)时,细化效果最为显著,二次枝晶间距由53.6μm减小到17.5μm,共晶硅形貌也由粗大的板条状转变为短棒或圆粒状。与A356合金相比,添加0.4%Er的合金样品的抗拉强度和伸长率分别提高了15.1%,29.8%。     

TMF criteria for Lost Foam Casting aluminum alloys

The purpose of this paper is to define a thermo‐mechanical fatigue criterion in order to predict the failure of aluminum alloys components issued with the lost foam casting process and used in particular in the automotive industry. The microstructure of the studied materials (A356–A319 aluminum alloys) is clearly affected by the lost foam casting process which can directly affect the mechanical properties, the damage mechanisms and the fatigue failure of specimens and components. The major problem in defining a predictive fatigue criterion in this case is the fact that it should be applicable for the component which is submitted to complex multiaxial thermo‐mechanical loadings. Since many years, energy‐based criteria have been used to predict fatigue failure of this class of materials. Then, different energy‐based criteria are tested in order to take into account different types of triaxiality and mean stress effects corrections. The fatigue lifetime results predicted by both of them show a good agreement with experimental results.     

Strontium modification of aluminium alloy castings in the expendable pattern casting process

The influence of strontium modification on microstructure, pore characteristics and tensile properties of Al-Si-Cu castings produced by the expendable pattern casting (EPC) process has been investigated. Test castings have been produced at strontium concentrations varying from 0.0004%–0.03%. The castings have been analysed by microscopic and image analysis techniques. The results indicate that optimum strontium concentrations are between 0.01% and 0.015%. A coarsening of silicon particles is observed at strontium concentrations greater than 0.015%–0.02%. The addition of strontium to the melt also refines the iron- and copper-bearing phases in the casting. The amount of bulk porosity, average pore size and tensile properties of modified EPC castings are comparable to green sand castings. EPC castings are prone to surface porosity. Strontium modification has a significant effect on the pore distributions in EPC castings. The overall porosity and the maximum pore size increase with strontium modification.