Parametric Investigation of Cooling Slope Casting Method on the ‎Microstructure and Hardness Values of Al-A380 Alloy

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Isfahan, Iran. ‎

2 Assistant Professor, Young Researchers & Elite Club, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Isfahan, Iran.‎

10.22034/frj.2018.106034.1009

Abstract

A380 Aluminum alloy is suited for producing of different parts with proper strength and low weight because of having 8.5% silica and a suitable temperature range. Also, due to the wide usage of Al-A380 alloy in various industries such as automobile and aerospace industries, the use of some methods to improve the mechanical properties of this alloy can help to develop its applications. In the process of semisolid forming, by applying shear stress on alloy, dendritic structures converted to the globular ones that have better properties than the structure of common casting. The main objective of this study is to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties and determine the desired levels of propagation temperature and slope length in a semi-solid casting of Al-A380 alloy with the aid of a cooling slope method. The grain diameter, hardness and porosity in the samples were considered as important output characteristics in this study. Investigation of the microstructure of Al-A380 alloy in this study showed that the temperature of 605°C on the 600mm length and using the coolant system is the most appropriate casting that can be the best condition for this alloy. It is because of in this temperature the least grain diameter (32µm) is made. The hardness in this condition was obtained around 98HB that can be related to the effect of the shear stress rate.

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