FIRST MAGNESIUM V-PROCESS CASTING Sayavur I. Bakhtiyarov, Ruel A. Overfelt

摘要

The Solidification Design Center (Auburn University, AL, a NASA Research Partnership Center) and Jones Engineering Co. (Lawrenceville, GA) announced the first successful magnesium V-process (vacuum sealed molding process) casting. A student research team at Auburn University has been exploring the many benefits of V-process casting for several years. Since the invention of the V-process casting technique in Japan in 1971, it has been believed that the unique casting process is suitable for any metal (gray, ductile, malleable iron, various grades of steel or aluminum and copper base alloys) except magnesium. Currently die casting is the primary technique for production of magnesium parts for high volume automotive applications. However, the need for magnesium structural components spurs the need for alternative processes. Application of this vacuumsealed manufacturing process for magnesium casting directly addresses the high priority needs identified in the Metalcasting Industry Technology Roadmap and the primary mission of the AFS Magnesium Division - the development of alternative casting processes for magnesium. An exploration of the possibility of combining the benefits of V-process casting with the advantages of magnesium was really challenging mainly due to low thermal heat content and high chemical reactivity of magnesium. Support for this project was received from NASA's Space Product Development at Marshall Space Flight Center under Cooperative Agreement No. NCC8-240. The success of the initial casting demonstrates the possibility for magnesium Vprocess casting and will no doubt spur many commercial applications.