• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.161-166
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• 2010

In this examination, the effect of Sr addition and holding time on microstructure of Al-10.5wt%Si-2wt%Cu secondary die-casting alloy was investigated. Degree of undercooling was improved with increasing the Sr content in this alloy. Up to 0.02wt%Sr addition, acicular and lamellar eutectic structure was observed in the microstructure. Meanwhile, the eutectic Si was modified toward the fine fibrous form by increasing Sr content with more than 0.03wt% and holding time of the melt. The well- modified alloys showed decreased eutectic silicon size from 3.25 ${\mu}m$ to less than 0.8 ${\mu}m$. From these results, the optimal strontium content and holding time were identified on the Al-10.5wt%Si-2wt%Cu secondary die-casting alloy.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 1997

The effects of changes in microstructure of Si phase on the thermal expansion coefficients(CTEs) and tensile properties of the hypereutectic Al-Si foundry alloy(A390) were investigated experimentally. Specimens were prepared by various fabrication processes, such as a permanent mold casting, a squeeze casting and a spray casting process, and subsequently hot-extruded. CTEs of the spray-cast specimen were found to be about 10% lower than those of the permanent mold-cast specimen, and the CTEs of the hypereutectic Al-Si alloy(A390) were changed proportionally with the size of Si phase. Ultimate tensile strength of the spray-cast and hot-extruded specimen was dramatically improved about 100% with improved elongation, compared to that of permanent mold-cast specimen. These improvements are mainly attributed to the reduction in size and aspect ratio of the brittle Si phase, and the elimination of the microvoids/porosities formed during casting.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.241-251
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• 2021

7000-series aluminum alloys are noted for their superior strength compared with other Al alloys, and their billets are generally fabricated by direct-chill (DC) casting. Surface defects in a DC-cast aluminum billet are mainly related to exudation and the meniscus freezing phenomenon, which are influenced by alloy compositions, casting speed, and casting temperature. 7000-series aluminum alloys have a wide freezing range during solidification, which makes it easy for casting defects to occur. In this study, we investigated surface defect evolution in casting billets of Al-8Zn-2Mg-2Cu alloy fabricated by a DC casting process. The billets showed "wavy" or "dotted" surfaces. The wavy surface was formed by meniscus freezing at a lower casting speed (200 mm/min) and temperature (655 ℃). In the wavy surface, refined dendritic cells were observed in a concave region due to the constitutional supercooling caused by meniscus freezing. Meanwhile, at a higher casting temperature (675 ℃), the dotted surface was formed by pore formation. In the dotted surfaces in the billet formed at a high casting speed (230 mm/min), an exudation layer was formed by the high metallostatic head pressure. The dotted region and the smooth region had a refined dendritic morphology and a columnar morphology at the exudation layer, respectively. This is attributed to the formation of gas pores in the dotted region.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.538-542
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• 2014

Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of Al-6Si-2Cu alloy for lightweight automotive parts were investigated. The test specimens were prepared by gravity casting process. Solution heat treatments were applied to as-cast alloys to improve mechanical properties. The microstructure of the gravity casting specimen presents a typical dendrite structure, having a secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of $37{\mu}m$. In addition to the Al matrix, a large amount of coarsened eutectic Si, $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase, and Fe-rich phases were identified. After solution heat treatment, single-step solution heat treatments were found to considerably improve the spheroidization of the eutectic Si phase. Two-step solution treatments gave rise to a much improved spheroidization. The mechanical properties of the two-step solution heat treated alloy have been shown to lead to higher values of properties such as tensile strength and microhardness. Consequentially, the microstructural and mechanical characteristics of Al alloy have been successfully characterized and are available for use with other basic data for the development of lightweight automotive parts.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2012

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the endurance against Al alloy melts and wear resistance of an in-situ synthesized titanium matrix composite (TMC) sleeve for aluminum alloy die-casting. The conventional die-casting shot sleeve material was STD61 tool steel. TMCs have great thermal stability, wear and oxidation resistance. The in-situ reaction between Ti and $B_4C$ leads to two kinds of thermodynamically stable reinforcements, such as TiBw and TiCp. To evaluate the feasibility of the application to a TMCs diecasting shot sleeve, the interfacial reaction behavior was examined between Al alloys melts with TMCs and STD61 tool steel. The pin-on-disk type dry sliding wear test was also investigated for TMCs and STD61 tool steel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.198-203
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• 2016

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) durability analysis and experiments of an aluminum alloy brake pedal were carried out for the car lighter by die casting method. In the CAE analysis, KS standards and criteria of the Volvo Car Corporation were applied, and in the experiment, KS standards were applied. The CAE analysis results show that aluminum alloy brake pedals are stronger than the conventional steel brakes pedals because the yield strength of the aluminum alloy increased by almost 97% over that of steel. Further, the structures of the cylinder and the frame were reinforced with increasing thickness of flame and were changed to suit the die-casting process. Through a durability test based on the KS standard, the strength of a prototype of the aluminum alloy brake pedal was confirmed to be sufficient.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.26-31
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• 2019

In this study, the mechanical characteristics and microstructure of hypereutectic Al-17Si-5Fe extruded alloys prepared by a rapid solidification process (RSP) were investigated. The hypereutectic Al alloy was fabricated by means of RSP and permanent casting. For RSP, the Al alloy melted at $920^{\circ}C$, cooling the specimens at a rate of $10^6^{\circ}C/s$ when the RSP was used, thus allowing the refining of primary Si particles more than when using permanent casting, at a rate of about 91%. We tested an extrusion RSP billet and a permanent-cast billet. Before the hot-extrusion process, heating to $450^{\circ}C$ took place for one hour. The samples were then hotextruded with a condition of extrusion ratio of 27 and a ram speed of 0.5 mm/s. Microstructural analyses of the extruded RSP method and the permanent casting method were carried out with OM and SEM-EDS mapping. The mechanical properties in both cases were evaluated by Vickers micro-hardness, wear resistance and tensile tests. It was found that when hypereutectic Al-17Si-5Fe alloys were fabricated by a rapid solidification method, it becomes possible to refine Si and intermetallic compounds. During the preparation of the hypereutectic Al-17Si-5Fe alloy by the rapid solidification method, the pressure of the melting crucible was low, and at faster drum speeds, smaller grain alloy flakes could be produced. Hot extrusion of the hypereutectic Al-17Si-5Fe alloy during the rapid solidification method required higher pressure levels than hot extrusion of the permanent mold-casted alloy. However, it was possible to produce an extruded material with a better surface than that of the hot extruded material processed by permanent mold casting.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.100-110
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• 2010

The solidification sequence and formation of intermetallic phase of Fe-rich Al-Si-Cu alloy were investigated by using real-time imaging of synchrotron X-ray radiation. Effects of cooling rate during uni-directional solidification on the resultant solidification behavior was also studied in a specially constructed vacuum chamber in the SPring-8 facility. The series of radiographic images were complementarily analyzed with conventional analysis of OM and SEM/EDX for phase identification. Detailed solidification sequence and formation mechanisms of various phases were discussed based on real-time image analysis. The growth rates of $\alpha$-AlFeMnSi and ${\beta}-Al_5FeSi$ were measured in order to understand the growth behavior of each phase. It is suggested that real-time imaging technique can be a powerful tool for the precise understanding of solidification behavior of various industrial materials.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2003

Ti-20%Zr-X%Cr(X=0,5) based alloys not containing hamful Al and V were newly designed in order to reveal their possibility for dental casting alloys, and melted in argon-arc casting machine. The mechanical properties were evaluated by using universal testing machine. The tensile strength and %elongaton of the alloys markedly increased with Cr content. The Ti-20%Zr-5%Cr alloy showed a similar tendency with Ti-6%Al-4%V alloy in tensile strength, but surpassed in %elongation. From these results, it was concluded that new alloys for successful dental casting materials should be designed as Ti-Zr-Cr based alloys.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2016

In this study, comparison of corrosion properties of the Mg-1.5Ge-1Zn (GZ21) alloy and Mg-9Al-1Zn (AZ91) alloy were investigated. The studied alloys were fabricated by permanent mold casting method. And the potentiodynamic test, hydrogen evolution test, immersion test and A.C Impedance test were carried out in a 3.5% NaCl solution with pH7.2 at room temperature to measure the corrosion properties. The microstructure of GZ21 alloy was composed of ${\alpha}-Mg$ and $Mg_2Ge$ phases and AZ91 alloy was composed of ${\alpha}-Mg$ and $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ phases. From the test results, the corrosion property was improved by adding Ge. It seemed that the corrosion mechanism was changed from galvanic corrosion (AZ91) to filiform corrosion (GZ21).