Quality Assessment of Al Castings Produced in Sand Molds Using Image and CT Analyses

Abstract

AbstractNowadays, the economic production of aluminum casts is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, the decision of whether to use alloys based on the primary aluminum (low Fe content, but high costs) or the secondary aluminum (high Fe content, but reasonable costs) for a cast product is a common problem. The main expected influence of higher iron content is to increase porosity and decrease mechanical and fatigue properties. Therefore, this work is focused on assessment of the higher Fe content influence on porosity and iron-rich intermetallic phases formation and, hence, changes in the mechanical properties, with simultaneously keeping the production economical. The quality of castings was measured by application of the 2D technology (image analysis) and the 3D technology (CT analysis), as well. Results show that technologies of assessment are comparable and length of the Fe-rich phases is not critical for mechanical properties, but it is important for porosity formation in materials with the higher amount of Fe.\n