Effect of Superheat Melt Treatment on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloys Produced by Lost Foam Casting

Abstract

The resource-saving technology for producing of thin-walled castings from A356.1, A413.1 and A360.0 aluminum alloys by the lost foam casting method, as well as the results of this technology implementation in production conditions are considered in the paper. The technology involves thermo-speed treatment of the melt with the predominance of secondary materials in charge (85...90 wt.%), including isothermal holding and subsequent rapid cooling of the melt for fixation the high-temperature state. It is shown that the use of thermo-speed treatment promotes the production of aluminum castings with fine-grained microstructure and the enhanced level of mechanical properties without the addition of costly modifying additives, and makes it possible to use an increased amount of secondary charge materials during smelting.