Effect of casting/mould interfacial heat transfer during solidification of aluminium alloys cast in CO2-sand mould

The ability of heat to flow across the casting and through the interface from the casting to the mold directly affects the evolution of solidification and plays a notable role in determining the freezing conditions within the casting, mainly in foundry systems of high thermal diffusivity such as chill castings. An experimental procedure has been utilized to measure the formation process of an interfacial gap and metal-mould interfacial movement during solidification of hollow cylindrical castings of Al-4.5 % Cu alloy cast in CO₂-sand mould. Heat flow between the casting and the mould during solidification of Al-4.5 % Cu alloy in CO₂-sand mould was assessed using an inverse modeling technique. The analysis yielded the interfacial heat flux (q), heat transfer coefficient (h) and the surface temperatures of the casting and the mould during solidification of the casting. The peak heat flux was incorporated as a dimensionless number and modeled as a function of the thermal diffusivities of the casting and the mould materials. Heat flux transients were normalized with respect to the peak heat flux and modeled as a function of time. The heat flux model proposed was to estimate the heat flux transients during solidification of Al-4.5 % Cu alloy cast in CO₂-sand moulds.     

Effect of modification melt treatment on casting/chill interfacial heat transfer and electrical conductivity of Al–13% Si alloy

For successful modelling of the solidification process, a reliable heat transfer boundary condition data is required. These boundary conditions are significantly influenced by the casting and mould parameters. In the present work, the effect of sodium modification melt treatment on casting/chill interfacial heat transfer during upward solidification of an Al–13% Si alloy against metallic chills is investigated using thermal analysis and inverse modelling techniques. In the presence of chills, modification melt treatment resulted in an increase in the cooling rate of the solidifying casting near the casting/chill interfacial region. The corresponding interfacial heat flux transients and electrical conductivities are also found to be higher. This is attributed to (i) improvement in the casting/chill interfacial thermal contact condition brought about by the decrease in the surface tension of the liquid metal on addition of sodium and (ii) increase in the electronic heat conduction in the initial solidified shell due to change in the morphology of silicon from a acicular type to a fine fibrous structure and increase in the ratio of the modification rating to the secondary dendrite arm spacing.     

Modelled heat transfer coefficients for Al–7 wt-%Si alloy castings unidirectionally solidified horizontally and vertically downwards

Abstract

A model is described for the calculation of the interfacial heat transfer coefficient during the unidirectional solidification of Al–7 wt-%Si alloy castings against a water cooled copper chill. The model includes the deformation of the initial solidified skin of the casting into a convex shape within the first seconds of solidification. Thereafter, heat transfer from the casting to the chill takes place through a central contact area and an outer annulus where local separation has occurred. Modelled heat transfer coefficients for solidification horizontally and vertically downwards are compared with experimentally determined values and show broad agreement. Some limitations of the model which prevent better agreement with the experimental values are discussed.     

Estimation of air gap and heat transfer coefficient at different faces of Al and Al–Si castings solidifying in permanent mould

Abstract

In the casting processes, the heat transfer coefficient at the metal/mould interface is an important controlling factor for the solidification rate and the resulting structure and mechanical properties. Several factors interact to determine its value, among which are the type of metal/alloy, the mould material and surface conditions, the mould and pouring temperatures, casting configuration, and the type of gases at the interfacial air gap formed. It is also time dependent. In this work, the air gap formation was computed using a numerical model of solidification, taking into consideration the shrinkage and expansion of the metal and mould, gas film formation, and the metallostatic pressure. The variation of the air gap formation and heat transfer coefficient at the metal mould interface are studied at the top, bottom, and side surfaces of Al and Al–Si castings in a permanent mould in the form of a simple rectangular parallelepiped. The results show that the air gap formation and the heat transfer coefficient are different for the different casting surfaces. The bottom surface where the metallostatic pressure makes for good contact between the metal and the mould exhibits the highest heat transfer coefficient. For the sidewalls, the air gap was found to depend on the casting thickness as the larger the thickness the larger the air gap. The air gap and heat transfer coefficient also depend on the surface roughness of the mould, the alloy type, and the melt superheat. The air gap is relatively large for low values of melt superheat. The better the surface finish, the higher the heat transfer coefficient in the first few seconds after pouring. For Al–Si alloys, the heat transfer coefficient increases with increasing Si content.     

Heat transfer during solidification of chemically modified Al–Si alloys around a copper chill

Abstract

The solidifying metal/chill contour will significantly affect the boundary heat transfer coefficients, and solidification modellers should be aware of the casting conditions for which the heat transfer coefficients are determined. The previous work carried out on solidification of Al–Si alloys in a metallic mould and solidification against bottom/top chills has shown that modification and chilling have synergetic effect resulting in a significant increase in the heat flux transients at the casting/chill interface. In the present work, the heat transfer during solidification of unmodified and chemically modified Al–Si alloys around a cylindrical copper chill was investigated. Heat flux transients were estimated using lumped heat capacitance method. Lower peak heat flux was obtained with chemically modified alloy. This is in contrast to the results reported for alloys solidifying against chills and in metallic moulds. The chill thermal behaviour and heat transfer to the chill material when surrounded by modified and unmodified alloys were explained on the basis of the decrease in the degree of undercooling in the case of modified alloy as compared to unmodified alloy and the change in contact condition and shrinkage characteristics of the alloy due to the addition of chemical modifiers.     

镁合金铸造成形过程宏观/微观模拟

通过研究镁合金压铸过程中界面热,采用热传导反算法确定压铸过程的界面换热系数,研究镁合金压铸过程中工艺参数及凝固过程对铸件界面换热系数的影响规律,建立镁合金压铸过程界面换热边界条件的处理模型,以实现镁合金压铸过程中凝固过程的准确预测。通过实验研究镁合金压铸过程中凝固组织,建立了镁合金压铸过程中形核模型。采用CA方法,建立了镁合金枝晶生长模型,以实现镁合金凝固组织的预测。采用相场方法研究了镁合金枝晶生长形貌。     

Aluminium and Al–4·5Cu alloy end chill: structural observation and heat flow analysis

Abstract

End chill experiments were performed on aluminium and Al–4·5Cu (wt-%) in order to study the effect of melt superheat (20–150 K), chill material (copper, iron, or sand), and specimen length (890–230 mm) on the type and size of macrostructure. Increasing melt superheat increases the length of columnar zone, which is shorter for the alloy than for the commercial purity metal. The columnar fraction increases with the thermal conductivity of the chill material and the heat transfer coefficient. The results are correlated with the temperature gradient, solidification rate, and growth rate obtained from a heat flow model. The columnar to equiaxed transition is found to occur at a critical temperature gradient and growth rate. These critical values differ with alloy composition. The grain size of columnar and equiaxed grains is found to follow a power relationship with solidification rate.

MST/1709     

An ultrasonic technique for the determination of casting-chill contact during solidification

Heat transfer between a solidifying aluminium alloy casting and a mould is dominated by the thermal resistance created by the interface. Interfacial heat transfer occurs by conduction through the atmosphere between the two surfaces and by conduction through the points of actual contact. (Heat transfer by radiation is probably significant only for ferrous castings.) The extent of real physical contact between two surfaces is difficult to quantify. This paper explains a method, using ultrasonic flaw detection techniques, whereby an estimate of the propagation of an ultrasonic signal through a casting-chill interface is used to infer the degree of actual contact occurring between them.In experiments involving casting and solidification of an aluminium alloy onto a copper chill the technique was found to give information for the first two seconds of the casting process only. In this time a peak in ultrasound transmission was observed, correlating to a maximum in the area of casting-chill contact, followed by a decrease in the ultrasound transmission that corresponded to actual contact areas between the casting and the chill in the region of 5 to 10%.     

An ultrasonic technique for the determination of casting-chill contact during solidification

Heat transfer between a solidifying aluminium alloy casting and a mould is dominated by the thermal resistance created by the interface. Interfacial heat transfer occurs by conduction through the atmosphere between the two surfaces and by conduction through the points of actual contact. (Heat transfer by radiation is probably significant only for ferrous castings.) The extent of real physical contact between two surfaces is difficult to quantify. This paper explains a method, using ultrasonic flaw detection techniques, whereby an estimate of the propagation of an ultrasonic signal through a casting-chill interface is used to infer the degree of actual contact occurring between them.In experiments involving casting and solidification of an aluminium alloy onto a copper chill the technique was found to give information for the first two seconds of the casting process only. In this time a peak in ultrasound transmission was observed, correlating to a maximum in the area of casting-chill contact, followed by a decrease in the ultrasound transmission that corresponded to actual contact areas between the casting and the chill in the region of 5 to 10%.     

直接冷却半连续铸造铝合金圆锭温度场的数值模拟

通过试验方法测定直接冷却半连续铸造铝合金圆锭凝固过程的温度变化曲线,利用逆向法计算出铸锭表面热流和换热系数;然后采用数值方法模拟直接冷却半连续铸造过程温度场,实测结果和模拟数据基本吻合。     

Effect of melt superheat and chill material on interfacial heat-transfer coefficient in end-chill Al and Al-Cu alloy castings

Solidification of metal castings inside moulds is mainly dependent on the rate of heat removal from the metal to the mould. During casting solidification, an air gap usually develops at the interface between the solidfying metal and the surrounding mould or chill. This condition occurs in most casting geometries, except in some cases such as the cast metal solidifying around a central core. An overall heat-transfer coefficient, which includes all resistances to heat flow from the metal to its surroundings can be determined. The objective of this work was to determine the overall heat-transfer coefficient,h, using experimental and computersimulation results on commercial purity aluminium and Al-4.5 wt% Cu alloy solidifying in a vertical end-chill apparatus. The cast ingots had a cylindrical shape with 12.5 mm diameter and different lengths of 95 and 230 mm. It solidified at different superheats (ranging from 50–110 °C) against two different chill materials: copper, and dry moulding sand. A computer program solving the heat-conduction equation and taking into consideration the convection in the melt, was used to compute the temperature history at numerous points along the ingot length. Differenth values were assumed as a function of time, until agreement between experimental and computed cooling curves was obtained. The variation ofh as a function of time, surface temperature, specimen length for each melt superheat and chill material was found. The thickness of the air gap was also evaluated. The results indicate that the variation of heat-transfer coefficient with time followed a pattern of sudden increase for the first few seconds, followed by a steady state, after whichh decreased and reached another lower constant value. Theh values were also found to decrease rapidly when the liquidus temperature was reached in the melt. For longer specimen and higher melt superheat, the heat-transfer coefficient increased. It was also higher for a copper than for a sand chill.     

The mould-filling capacity of two casting alloys

The mould-filling capacities of an Au-Ag-Cu alloy and a Ni-Cr-Be alloy for dental use have been studied by measuring the lengths of cast helices of a constant cross-section as a function of the supertemperature of the melt. A vacuum-pressure casting machine was applied in the experiments. Assuming that the conduction of heat through the investment is rate-controlling for the heat flow, the heat of fusion was calculated for the two alloys. These values were found to be close to those obtained by differential thermal analysis measurements. The lengths of the helices are strongly influenced by the deliberated heat of fusion during solidification. The substantially higher mould-filling capacity of the Ni-Cr-Be alloy compared with that of the Au-Ag-Cu alloy can be explained to a large extent by the corresponding difference in their latent heat of fusion. A calculation of the lengths of the helices requires a knowledge of the speeds of the melts. So far there are only indications of a higher speed for the Ni-Cr-Be alloy than for the Au-Ag-Cu alloy with the casting machine employed. The highest slope for the length of helix against supertemperature curve was observed for the Au-Ag-Cu alloy, indicating a smaller heat transfer coefficient for this alloy than for the Ni-Cr-Be alloy.     

Effect of melt superheat on heat transfer coefficient for aluminium solidifying against copper chill

Solidification of metal castings inside moulds is mainly dependent on the heat flow from the metal to the mould which is in turn proportional to an overall heat transfer coefficient h which includes all resistances to heat flow such as the presence of an air gap. In the present work the heat transfer coefficient is determined using a directional solidification set-up with end chill for solidifying commercial-purity aluminium with different superheats (40 K and 115 K) against copper chill. A computer program solving the heat conduction and convection in the solidifying metal is used together with the experimental temperature history in order to determine the heat transfer coefficient at the interface. The variation of h as a function of time, surface temperature and gap temperature for each melt superheat is found. The results indicate that h reaches a maximum value for surface temperature close to the liquidus. The analysis of heat flux from the metal to the mould indicates that it is mainly by conduction. The air gap size is evaluated with time, surface temperature and with melt superheat. It is found that higher h values and smaller gap sizes are obtained with higher superheats.     

浇注温度对定向凝固Al－Cu合金热裂的影响

针对空心叶片类定向凝固铸件存在的热裂问题，开展了定向凝固热裂规律的研究。本文选择凝固参数较全的Ａｌ－Ｃｕ系合金，研究了定向凝固工艺参数之一的浇注温度对Ａｌ－０．６ｗｔ％Ｃｕ和Ａｌ－２．０ｗｔ％Ｃｕ合金热裂的影响。定向凝固热裂试验表明，提高浇注温度可以降低Ａｌ－０．６ｗｔ％Ｃｕ合金的热裂程度，但对Ａｌ－２．０ｗｔ％Ｃｕ则无作用。理论分析认为，合金在不可补缩区的冷却速率变化是改变合金热裂程度的重要因素。     

Dynamic wetting and heat transfer at the initiation of aluminum solidification on copper substrates

Dynamic wetting and heat transfer during the start of solidification were studied with the help of molten aluminum droplets falling from a crucible onto a copper substrate. A high-speed camera captured the change in the spreading droplet’s geometry, while thermocouple, inserted inside the substrate, allowed a heat transfer analysis to be performed. Droplet spreading factors and interfacial heat fluxes were then used to, respectively, characterize dynamic wetting and heat transfer for the various experimental conditions explored. These were: (1) effects of chemical composition of the aluminum alloy, (2) initial temperature of the substrate, (3) surface roughness of the substrate, and (4) composition of the gaseous atmosphere. The experiments were all carried out in gaseous atmospheres containing oxygen in sufficient amount to form oxide skins at the surface of the droplets and the substrates. The results showed instances where an improvement in the dynamic wetting was accompanied by an increase in heat transfer during the early stages of solidification but this was not systematic. In these cases where a positive correlation was not observed, it was postulated this was caused by factors such as variations in the oxidation at the surface of the substrates and the droplets as well as gas trapped at the interface between the droplets and the substrates. Sébastien Leboeuf formerly with the Aluminum Technology Centre and McGill University.     

Failure analysis as a tool to optimize the design of a ring on disc tribotest investigating the role of surface roughness

The influence of the surface roughness of pearlitic grey cast iron discs on the formation of tribofilms and the evolution of the friction coefficient during a ring on disc tribotest with the addition of magnetite and magnetite–graphite nanopowders as interfacial media was investigated. The roughness parameters of the cast iron discs were varied by electro discharge machining (EDM) and grinding processes, producing four distinct surface roughness conditions. The evolution of the friction coefficient, however, did not reach the steady state for most of the samples and the role of the surface roughness on the friction coefficient could not be identified. Focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy on the cast iron discs was carried out to investigate the microstructure of the discs near the tribosurface. These results showed that the EDM process not only varied the surface roughness, but also changed the microstructure of the cast iron discs, promoting the incipient fusion of the cast iron surface, with the formation of ridges and casting defects (pores). As a result, a layer of rapidly solidified metal with a dendritic microstructure was formed near to the surface of the EDMed discs.     

A study on effective use of heat transfer additives in the process of steam condensation

It is well known that the additives in absorption chillers play a significant role in increasing absorber performance. Realizing that the additives in absorption chillers circulate throughout the system including the condensers, we investigated the effect of additives in the condenser. Reported herein are the results of the experimental and theoretical investigations done by using effective heat transfer additives for enhancing heat transfer coefficient in condensation of steam over a horizontal copper (99.9% Cu, 0.1% P) tube surface. By using effective additives, the condensation heat transfer coefficient can be enhanced as much as 1.47 times when compared to filmwise condensation. The steam condensation, which occurred in our experiments while using effective additives, was mostly pseudo-dropwise like. In our experiments, we noted that the use of heat transfer additive such as 2-ethoxyethanol for steam condensation was highly effective. This increase in heat transfer coefficient can be attributed to concept of Marangoni effect. It is understood that this surface convection is caused by local variations in the interfacial tension. So far there has been very little noted literature available on the theoretical aspect of surface tension effect on enhancing heat transfer rate in steam condensation. In the current research we try to explain the surface tension effect for enhancing heat transfer rate in steam condensation using effective heat transfer additives.     

确定金属型铸造界面传热系数方法的研究

铸造凝固过程数值模拟中通常用界面传热系数表示热阻的影响,在诸多影响模拟精度的因素中,该系数起主导作用。为提高模拟精度,以ANSYS软件为平台,在测温试验的基础上,考虑铸件与铸型的不同接触位置以及不同界面传热系数对模拟结果的影响,采用0.618黄金分割法选取了该系数;应用最小二乘法建立起界面传热系数与时间关系的数学模型,并对金属型铸造凝固过程的温度场进行了模拟,将模拟结果与试验结果做了对比分析,得到了合理的温度分布。研究的结果为获得精确的界面传热系数提供了一种研究方法。     

1Cr18Ni9Ti不锈钢双辊薄带凝固组织区的形成机理

在双辊薄带连铸实验和薄带凝固组织特征分析的基础上,结合对薄带凝固组织区的模拟预测结果,研究了1Cr18Ni9Ti不锈钢双辊薄带凝固组织区(特别是等轴晶区)的形成机理.结果表明:1Cr18Ni9Ti不锈钢双辊薄带凝固组织中的等轴晶区不但在凝固类型为半固态时形成,在轧制或理想型时也能形成.其形成机理为,熔池中悬浮游离晶体的沉积、聚集以及在枝晶生长前沿的长大和薄带离开二铸辊最小间隙(铸辊出口)后,薄带/空气界面换热系数骤然降低抑制了柱状枝晶的生长,并促使薄带中部未凝固熔体中游离晶体的择优长大.     

The effect of increased pressure on interfacial heat transfer in the aluminium gravity die casting process

Contraction and distortion of a casting during cooling within a mould can force their respective surfaces together, with the associated increased interfacial pressure resulting in increased interfacial heat transfer. This problem has been examined for the case of gravity and low pressure die casting of an Al alloy, where an insulating coating is applied to the die cavity to assist filling of the mould. The degree of interfacial pressure was estimated to be, for a typical small die casting, at most about 21 MPa. Repeated applications of a compressive load showed that a freshly applied die coating became thinner and smoother, until a stable situation was reached after about ten applications. The interfacial heat transfer coefficient was estimated to be increased by about 20%, with an increase in the applied pressure by a factor of two, from 7 MPa to 14 MPa, and increased by about 40%, with an increase in the applied pressure by a factor of three, from 7 MPa to 21 MPa. The heat transfer mechanisms between the casting and the die surfaces were evaluated to produce a simple model of interfacial heat transfer which included conduction through the points of actual contact, in parallel with conduction through the interfacial gas between the points of actual contact, both mechanisms being in series with the heat transfer by conduction through the die coating. Evaluation of the model produced agreement with experimentally determined values of the interfacial heat transfer coefficient to within about 15%.