• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.241-251
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• 2021

7000-series aluminum alloys are noted for their superior strength compared with other Al alloys, and their billets are generally fabricated by direct-chill (DC) casting. Surface defects in a DC-cast aluminum billet are mainly related to exudation and the meniscus freezing phenomenon, which are influenced by alloy compositions, casting speed, and casting temperature. 7000-series aluminum alloys have a wide freezing range during solidification, which makes it easy for casting defects to occur. In this study, we investigated surface defect evolution in casting billets of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy fabricated by a DC casting process. The billets showed "wavy" or "dotted" surfaces. The wavy surface was formed by meniscus freezing at a lower casting speed (200 mm/min) and temperature (655 ℃). In the wavy surface, refined dendritic cells were observed in a concave region due to the constitutional supercooling caused by meniscus freezing. Meanwhile, at a higher casting temperature (675 ℃), the dotted surface was formed by pore formation. In the dotted surfaces in the billet formed at a high casting speed (230 mm/min), an exudation layer was formed by the high metallostatic head pressure. The dotted region and the smooth region had a refined dendritic morphology and a columnar morphology at the exudation layer, respectively. This is attributed to the formation of gas pores in the dotted region.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.286-293
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• 2023

In this study, we investigated the microstructural evolution of Al-Mg-Zn aluminum alloy billet during homogenization treatment using OM, SEM, EDS and DSC. There were numerous phases found, such as; AlMgZn, AlMgFe, and AlMgZnSi phases, in the grain of the cast billet. After 6 hours homogenization treatment, Zn was mostly dissolved, whereas, Mg and Si were only partly dissolved. Accordingly, only AlMgFe and AlMgSi remained. After 18 hours, all of the leftover Mg and Si were dissolved, leaving only AlMgFe, which was also found after 24 hours. The results of the alloy design program, JMatPro showed that Mg dissloved more rapidly than Zn. According to the homogenization kinetic equation, Mg and Zn are completely dissolved within 1.9 and 3.5 hours, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.281-286
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• 2021

Arc ion plating (AIP), laser cladding, and nitriding are methods that can prevent mold damage or repair and create cracks and breakages on the die surface. The dissolution and soldering behavior of coated SKD61 by using arc ion plating, laser cladding, and nitriding was investigated. The structure of the coating was investigated as a function of deposition conditions by X-ray diffraction and the crystallographic orientation was determined using the texture factor. The TiAlN film deposited with AIP showed excellent corrosion resistance in the molten aluminum alloy at 680℃. In this paper, we have detailed the corrosion and mass loss phenomena associated with these steel-cast metal interactions.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2011

The brake disc materials for railway vehicle have been mainly used cast-iron. The brake disc and pad should be light, resist to a thermal crack and absorb enough friction energy. In order to satisfy this requirement, aluminum alloy brake disc for railway vehicle has been newly developed. The aluminum itself has not been considered the friction material for railway vehicle. However, in the case of aluminum composite with dispersed ceramic particles, friction characteristics, resistance to wear and heat are much improved. In the present study, aluminum composite brake disc of 20% ceramic particle and three kinds of organic pads have been tested in dynamometer. The results show that Al MMC brake disc and pad have good friction coefficient and wear rate, and thermal cracks in brake disc have not been initiated. Also, the Al MMC brake disc can be applied to railway vehicle of 150 km/h.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.210-214
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• 2013

Recently, the automotive industry has replaced cast iron to lightweight materials like aluminum for engine efficiency of automobiles and an emission control by government. In this paper we studied two auto parts manufacturing methods using an alloy of A356. That is gravity casting and H-NCM Rheo-diecasting forging. We analyzed the microstructure and mechanical properties for this method. In Microstructure analysis results, H-NCM Rheo-diecasting forging has more finer microstrucre and better forging effect. Resulting in better mechanical properties than gravity forging.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.153-158
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• 2016

The lost foam casting process was used to fabricate Al-Si-Mg cast specimens, and the effects of the chemical composition and process variables on the tensile properties and the mold filling ability were investigated. Some porosity formation was observed in thick sections of the casting and better tensile properties were obtained for thin sections, presumably because of their lower porosity and the higher cooling rate. Tensile properties were not clearly enhanced by grain refining treatment with Ti; however, the elongation was significantly improved by Sr modification of the Al-Si-Mg alloy. The mold filling distance was generally proportional to the pouring temperature of the melt, and the distance was also increased by the addition of Ti.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.299-302
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• 2005

Semisolid A356 slurries were prepared by electromagnetic stirring casting and by inoculation of Al-5Ti-B master alloy. As stirring time and addition of Al-5Ti-B are different, the grain size of the primary phase is different. Through the experiment of rheocast in a Buhler horizontal die casting machine, it was found that the finer the equiaxed primary dendrites, the smoother the die filling and better cast quality. Small equiaxed primary dendrite also results in less liquid segregation on the surface.

• Archives of Metallurgy and Materials
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.1029-1033
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• 2020

In this study, we investigated the effect of Fe addition (0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 wt.%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of as-cast and as-extruded Al-RE alloys. As the Fe element increased by 0 and 0.75wt.%, the phase fraction increased to 5.05, 5.76, 7.14 and 7.38 %. The increased intermetallic compound increased the driving force for recrystallization and grain refinement. The electrical conductivity of Al-1.0 wt.%RE alloy with Fe addition decreased to 60.29, 60.15, 59.58 and 59.13 %IACS. With an increase in the Fe content from 0 to 0.75 wt.% the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the alloy increased from 74.3 to 77.5 MPa. As the mechanical properties increase compared to the reduction of the electrical conductivity due to Fe element addition, it is considered to be suitable for fields requiring high electrical conductivity and strength.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.165-174
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• 2004

The pore formation characteristic of Mg alloy during Lost Foam Casting(LFC) was investigated with reduced pressure test and real casting, which was compared with the results of previous work for Al alloy. Cast Mg alloys in LFC had much lower porosities in comparison with those of Al alloys. Also, the proper pouring temperature gave the minimum porosity like Al alloy although it was higher than that of Al alloys due to the worse fluidity of Mg alloy. The pore formation mechanism of Mg alloy in LFC was similar to that of AI alloy but the critical temperature showing the different mechanism is higher than that of Al alloy as much as $30{\sim}50^{\circ}C$. The result that Mg alloy in LFC had the lower porosity comparing with Al alloy was due to the extra solubility of hydrogen gas although the solubility of Al alloy was easily exceeded by the external sources like pyrolyzed polystyrene products. The mold evacuation gave the lower porosity due to the removal of polystyrene pyrolysis products, and reduced shrinkage defects. Also, there was a proper evacuation pressure that gave a porosity of almost 0vol%. But much higher vacuum degree than this proper pressure caused the severe entrapment of polymer pyrolysis products that gave the large porosity.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 1994

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by fine steel wires were fabricated by squeeze casting process. Preforms made of fine steel wires were prepared with different surface conditions, namely uncoated(TN), carbo-nitriding treated(TT), and brass coated(TA). Squeeze casting were performed under the pressure of $1500kg/cm^2$ for 3min. during solidification, and pouring temp. of the melt being $750^{\circ}C$ and the steel mold being preheated at $250^{\circ}C$. Microstructural characteristics were evaluated, particularly concerned with the effect of the surface conditions of the preforms. The results obtained from this study are like these. TN specimens show partially non-wetted regions, due to easy formation of oxides on the surface of the fine steel wires. TT specimens show no interfacial reaction between the steel wires and the aluminum alloy matrix, possibly due to the formation of carbo-nitrided zone on the surface of the steel wires. TA specimens show excellent wettabillity between the reinforced steel wires and the aluminum alloy matrix and very thin interfacial zone is formed between them. During the solution hardening treatment of TA specimens, thickness of the interfacial reaction zones were increased with the solution treating time. TA specimens show typical ductile fracture in tensile test, but TT specimens show brittle fracture possibly due to the formation of the brittle hard surface on the steel wires during carbo-nitriding treatments. TA specimens which were reinforced with 40 vol.% of the fine steel wires exhibit high tensile strength of $77.1kgf/mm^2$ and impact value of $8.1kgf-m/cm^2$.