Material Properties Improvement of Cast A206 Using Vacuum Assisted Counter Gravity Casting Process

摘要

Recently, there is a growing trend in the aluminum foundry industry to develop improved melting and casting processes to produce lightweight, high-strength, and thin-wall castings for the aerospace and transportation industry. One casting method that has demonstrated industrial potential for producing clean, thin-wall castings is vacuum-assisted, counter gravity casting. This process has the benefit of expeditiously and quiescently filling the casting cavity with a dramatic reduction of furnace related and reoxidation inclusions. Additionally, lower casting temperatures can be utilized because the application of vacuum during filling overcomes the resistive internal cavity pressure resulting in a finer, as-cast microstructure. The paper explores and discusses the processing and design conditions in improving the mechanical properties of A206 casting alloy using the vacuum assisted, counter gravity casting process.