• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.108-114
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• 2017

In this study, we investigated the effect of the Si content on the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of hypoeutectic Al-Si binary alloys in the range of 4~10 wt% Si. Cooling curves were measured during the solidification of the alloy cast in a step-wise mold. We compared two kinds of solidification time: the first is the total solidification time for both dendritic and eutectic growth, and the second is the solidification time for only dendritic growth. The proportional constant in the relationship between SDAS and cooling rate was estimated, as this constant represents the stability of the cast microstructure. The proportional constant decreased with the Si contents from 4 wt% to 8 wt%, and it remains relatively uniform with up to 10 wt% of Si.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.225-230
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• 2012

In this study, a more practical and simulation approach which can predict the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys is proposed. First, cooling rate, micro-structure, and mechanical properties of casting product were measured through casting experiment. The relation between cooling rate and SDAS decrease exponentially and the linearly decreasing relation exist between SDAS and mechanical properties. Then, the cooling rate was calculated by casting process simulation and the mechanical properties were predicted by using the relations that were derived through experiment. Experimentally measured mechanical properties and predicted values by simulation were in the range of relatively small difference. The mechanical properties of various Al alloys are expected to be predicted by the casting process simulation before actual casting.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.97-103
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to develop the mechanical properties of AlSiCu aluminum alloy by the two-step solution heat treatment. The microstructure of gravity casting specimen represents a typical dendrite structure having a secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of 40 mm. In addition to the Al matrix, a large amount of coarsen eutectic Si phase, $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase, and Fe-rich phases are generated. The eutectic Si phases are fragmented and globularized with solution heat treatment. Also, the $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase is resolutionized into the Al matrix. The $2^{nd}$ solution temperature at $525^{\circ}C$ might be a optimum condition for enhancement of mechanical properties of AlSiCu aluminum alloy.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.254-261
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• 1998

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the low pressure die-cast Al wheels were investigated by microscope, image analyzer, NDT (non-destructive test), and tensile test. The variation of SDAS (secondary dendrite arm spacing), porosity per unit area, quality grade, and tensile properties with the mold temperatures were examined. SDAS was gradually decreased with a decrease in temperature. However, the lowest value of porosity per unit area was observed at the mold temperature of $405^{\circ}C$ and the optimum mold temperature was found to be $405^{\circ}C$. Besides, from the observation of pore morphology, it was also found that the pore formation was mainly caused by shrinkage during solidification. The tensile strength, elongation, and impact toughness were markedly decreased, however the yield strength was nearly constant. The decrease of mechanical properties is attributed to the increase of porosity.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2014

The mechanical properties of low-pressure die cast (LPDC) A356-T6 automotive road wheels are evaluated and correlated with their corresponding microstructures. In this study, two types of alloy wheels processed using different LPDC gating system are investigated. The yield stress, tensile stress, and elongation values tested at room temperature are correlated with the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) with respect to the gating system, and are also compared with similar studies. The SDAS and precipitates are examined using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The phase information is also investigated using X-ray diffraction. Charpy impact tests are also performed from $-100^{\circ}C$ to $200^{\circ}C$, and the fracture surfaces are examined using SEM. The impact energy is demonstrated to increase with increasing temperatures without exhibiting specific transition behaviors as in other nonferrous alloys. The fracture toughness is also evaluated using three point bend test with single-edged bend specimens. The obtained fracture toughness values are in good agreement with those in similar studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.102-108
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to develop the mechanical properties of an AlSiCu aluminum alloy using the two-step solution heat treatment. The microstructure of the gravity casting specimen represents a typical dendrite structure with a secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of 40 um. In addition to the Al matrix, a large amount of coarsen eutectic Si phase, $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase, and Fe-rich phases is generated. The eutectic Si phases are fragmented and globularized with the solution heat treatment. The $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase is also resolutionized into the Al matrix. The $2^{nd}$ solution temperature at $525^{\circ}C$ may be an optimal condition to enhance the mechanical properties of the AlSiCu aluminum alloy.

• 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.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.84-89
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• 2013

The demand of LNG tank and the constituting material, i.e., the Al5083 thick plate, increased due to the rapid growth LNG market. To weld the Al5083 thick plate, the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of high current is necessary to increase manufacturing productivity incurred by the multi pass welding. However, the arc welding vaporizes the volatile element such as magnesium (Mg). This phenomenon changes the Mg composition of the weld metal and the mechanical properties. The study investigated the weldability of Al5083 alloys after conducting high current GMAW. The Al5083 alloy was welded by using different size of welding wires and high current (800-950A). As the arc current increased from 800A to 950A, the mechanical strength decreased and the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) increased. Even though the arc current increased SDAS, the mechanical strength decreased due to the Mg loss in the weldment. The large diameter of welding wire decreased the dilution of the weld, therefore increasing the Mg content and the strength of the weld. For the reason, the content of Mg in welds was a major parameter to determine the mechanical property for the high current GMAW. For the arc current between 800A and 950A, the yield strength of the weldments showed a relationship with the weight percent of Mg content ($X_{Mg}$): Y.S = 27.9($X_{Mg}$)-11.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.281-287
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• 2014

Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of Al-6Si-2Cu alloy for engine mount bracket prepared by gravity casting (as-cast) and die-casting (as-diecast) process have been investigated. For the microstructural characterization, the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) analyses are conducted. For the intermetallic phases, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) are also conducted with quantitative and qualitative analysis. Micro Vickers hardness and static tensile test are achieved in order to measure mechanical properties of alloys. Secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of as-cast and as-diecast show 37um and 18um, respectively. A large amount of coarsen eutectic Si, $Al_2Cu$ intermetallic phase and Fe-rich phases are identified in the Al-6Si-2Cu alloy. Mechanical properties of gravity casting alloy are much higher than those of die-casting alloy. Especially, yield strength and elongation of gravity casting alloy show 2 times higher than die-casting alloy. After shot peening, shot peening refined the surface grains and Si particles of the alloys by plastic deformation. The surface hardness value shows that shot peening alloy has higher value than unpeening alloy.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2019

In this study, various alloying elements (Cr, Sr, Ca, Cd) were added to improve the mechanical properties of ADC12 fabricated by a die casting process. The effect of alloying elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The phase analysis results of the modified ADC12 alloy with conventional ADC12 alloy, showed the similar characteristics of Al matrix, Si phase, $CuAl_2$ phase and the Fe intermetallic phase. As a result of the microstructure observation, the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) was shown to have decreased after the addition of the alloying elements. The eutectic Si phase, which existed as flake form in the conventional ADC12 alloy, was modified finely as a fiber form in the modified ADC12 alloy. It was observed that the $CuAl_2$ phase as the strengthening phase was relatively finely distributed in the modified ADC12 alloy. The Fe intermetallic appeared as a Chinese script shaped $Al_6$ (Mn,Fe) which is detrimental to mechanical properties in conventional ADC12 alloy. On the other hand, in the modified ADC12 alloy, polyhedral ${\alpha}-Al_{15}Si_2$ $(Fe,Mn,Cr)_3$ was observed. The tensile properties were improved in the modified ADC12 alloy. The yield strength and tensile strength increased by 12.4% and 10.0%, respectively, in the modified ADC12 alloy, and the elongation was also seen to have been increased. As a result of the pin on disk wear test, the wear resistance properties were also improved by up to about 7% in the modified ADC12 alloy. It is noted that the wear deformation microstructures were also observed, and it was found that the fine eutectic Si and strengthening phases greatly improved abrasion resistance.