Effect of Al 6061 Alloy Compositions on Mechanical Properties of the Automotive Steering Knuckle Made by Novel Casting Process

Abstract

This study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel casting process called tailored additive casting (TAC). The TAC process involves injecting the melt several times to fabricate a single component, with a few seconds of holding between successive injections. Using TAC, we can successfully produce commercial-grade automotive steering knuckles with a tensile strength of 383 ± 3 MPa and an elongation percentage of 10.7 ± 1.1%, from Al 6061 alloys. To produce steering knuckles with sufficient mechanical strength, the composition of an Al 6061 alloy is optimized with the addition of Zr, Zn, and Cu as minor elements. These minor elements influence the thermal properties of the melt and alloy, such as their thermal stress, strain rate, shrinkage volume, and porosity. Optimal conditions for heat treatment before and after forging further improve the mechanical strength of the steering knuckles produced by TAC followed by forging.