Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microstructure and Properties of A356 Alloy Wheels Fabricated by Low-Pressure Die Casting with Local Squeeze

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The low-pressure die-casting process (LPDC) is widely used in fabricating aluminum alloy automotive wheels. With good castability and mechanical properties, A356 alloys are important and common materials for LPDC wheels. However, in practical casting process, defects often appear, especially porosities in the wheel thick-walled parts (i.e., spoke) due to inadequate interdendritic feeding, which greatly decreases the mechanical properties. In this investigation, to deal with this problem, local squeeze (LS) was added in conventional LPDC to enhance the interdendritic feeding. The practical A356 alloy wheel castings were fabricated with different LS velocities and times. The quantitative characteristics of α-Al cells, Si particles, and porosities with and without the LS analyzed by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, and 3D x-ray computed tomography were compared. Their effects on the tensile and impact properties were discussed. The results have shown that the LS can increase the cooling rate and feed shrinkage of spoke parts, hence resulting in finer grains and denser microstructure. In result, the properties of spoke parts were improved with the LS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. Mazahery and M.O. Shabani, Experimental Investigation on the Aging Response, Hardness and Total Impact Energy Absorption of Sr-Modified Heat-Treatable Cast Automotive Aluminum Alloys, Trans. Indian Inst. Met., 2014, 67(5), p 753–759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M.O. Shabani and A. Mazahery, Microstructural Prediction of Cast A356 Alloy as a Function of Cooling Rate, JOM, 2011, 63(8), p 132–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M.O. Shabani and A. Mazahery, Automotive Copper and Magnesium Containing Cast Aluminium Alloys: Report on the Correlation Between Yttrium Modified Microstructure and Mechanical Properties, Russ. J. Nonferrous Met., 2014, 55(5), p 436–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. A. Mazahery and M.O. Shabani, Modification Mechanism and Microstructural Characteristics of Eutectic Si in Casting Al-Si Alloys: A Review on Experimental and Numerical Studies, JOM, 2014, 66(5), p 726–738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Q.G. Wang, D. Apelian, and D.A. Lados, Fatigue Behavior of A356-T6 Aluminum Cast Alloys: Part I. Effect of Casting Defects, J. Light Met., 2001, 1(1), p 73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J.Z. Yi, Y.X. Gao, P.D. Lee et al., Scatter in Fatigue Life Due to Effects of Porosity in Cast A356-T6 Aluminum–Silicon Alloys, Metall. Mater. Trans. A, 2003, 34(9), p 1879–1890

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. A. Bahmani, N. Varahram et al., A Mathematical Model for Prediction of Microporosity in Aluminum Alloy; A356, Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol., 2013, 64(9–12), p 1313–1321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. A. Bahmani, G.B. Eisaabadi, P. Davami et al., Effects of Hydrogen Level and Cooling Rate on Ultimate Tensile Strength of Al A319 Alloy, Russ. J. Nonferrous Met., 2014, 55(4), p 365–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. D.M. Maijer, W.S. Owen, and R.A. Vetter, An Investigation of Predictive Control for Aluminum Wheel Casting via a Virtual Process Model, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2009, 209(4), p 1965–1979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. M.S. Dargusch, G. Dour, N. Schauer et al., The Influence of Pressure During Solidification of High Pressure Die Cast Aluminum Telecommunications Components, J. Mater. Process. Technol., 2006, 180(1–3), p 37–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Z. Brodarac, P. Mrvar, J. Medved et al., Local Squeezing Casting Influence on the Compactness of AlSi10 Mg Alloy Castings, Metalurgija, 2007, 46(1), p 29–35

    Google Scholar 

  12. I. Ohnaka, J.D. Zhu, and A. Sugiyama, et al. A Method to Set Process Parameters of Local Squeeze in HPDC. In: 13th International Conference on Modeling of Casting, Welding and Advanced Solidification Processes (MCWASP), Schladming, Austria, vol. 33, p 012001, 2012.

  13. Y. Bai and H. Zhao, Tensile Properties and Fracture Behavior of Partial Squeeze Added Slow Shot Die-Cast A356 Aluminum Alloy, Mater. Des., 2010, 31(9), p 4237–4243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. W. Zhuang, H.D. Zhao, Y.Y. Li et al. Chinese Patent, 201310369926.3[P].

  15. W. Zhuang, H.D. Zhao, Y.Y. Li et al. Japanese Patent, 51302708294[P].

  16. C. Reilly, D. Jiang, Y. Lu et al., Process Modeling of Low-Pressure Die Casting of Aluminum Alloy Automotive Wheels, JOM, 2013, 65(9), p 1111–1121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. J.M. Huang, H.D. Zhao, and Z.M. Chen. Simulation and Experiment Study on Low Pressure Die-Cast A356 Wheels with Local Squeeze. In: The 10th Pacific Rim International Conference on Modeling of Casting and Solidification Process, Beijing, China, 2017.

  18. S.J. Luo, B.G. Chen, and P.X. Qi, Liquid Die Forging and Extrusion Casting Technology, Chemical Industry Press, Beijing, 2007

    Google Scholar 

  19. Y.F. Bai, H.D. Zhao, L.I. Yuan-Yuan et al., Microstructure and Impact Properties of Slow Injection A356 Die Castings with Partial Squeeze, Chin. J. Nonferrous Met., 2010, 20(3), p 442–450

    Google Scholar 

  20. H.D. Zhao, I. Ohanaka, Y. Sako, et al. Estimation of Porosity Defects with Consideration of Oxide Entrapment. In: The 65th World Foundry Congress, Gyeongju, Korea, 2002.

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research is supported by Industry Base Enhanced Project (TC160A310-10-01) and Key Technology Project of Foshan (2016AG100932).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangdong Key Laboratory for Processing and Forming of Advanced Metallic Materials, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Jia-Min Huang, Hai-Dong Zhao & Zhen-Ming Chen

Authors
  1. Jia-Min Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hai-Dong Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhen-Ming Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hai-Dong Zhao.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Huang, JM., Zhao, HD. & Chen, ZM. Microstructure and Properties of A356 Alloy Wheels Fabricated by Low-Pressure Die Casting with Local Squeeze. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 28, 2137–2146 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-03993-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-019-03993-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation