TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of local loading on microstructure and enhanced mechanical property of large complex castings prepared by Al–Si–Fe–Mn–Mg–Cu alloy during squeeze casting

AU - Meng, Shuancheng

AU - Gao, Minqiang

AU - Liu, Yan

AU - Yang, Li

AU - Ma, Huan

AU - LI, Jiehua

AU - Wang, Jianjun

AU - Guan, Renguo

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024

PY - 2024/11/20

Y1 - 2024/11/20

N2 - Flywheel shells with a complex structure and large wall-thickness difference, as key components in heavy trucks, serve to connect the engine and transmission. Formability and mechanical performance control of such components should be taken into consideration. In this work, an Al–Si–Fe–Mn–Mg–Cu alloy was used to manufacture the flywheel shell via squeeze casting. The role of local loading on microstructure and mechanical property at thick-walled positions was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the squeeze casting specific pressure and heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical property of the Al–Si–Fe–Mn–Mg–Cu alloy flywheel shells was also analyzed. The results showed that at the thick-walled positions, local loading not only helped eliminate the solidification defects, but also refined the microstructure including α-Al grains and secondary dendrite arm spacing. With increasing the squeeze casting specific pressure from 24 MPa to 32 MPa, microstructure refinement and mechanical property enhancement of squeeze casting flywheel shells were obtained. After T6 heat treatment, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of flywheel shells were further increased to 261.8 and 318.4 MPa, respectively, owing to the formation of spherical eutectic Si phases and nano-sized β'', Q and S precipitates.

AB - Flywheel shells with a complex structure and large wall-thickness difference, as key components in heavy trucks, serve to connect the engine and transmission. Formability and mechanical performance control of such components should be taken into consideration. In this work, an Al–Si–Fe–Mn–Mg–Cu alloy was used to manufacture the flywheel shell via squeeze casting. The role of local loading on microstructure and mechanical property at thick-walled positions was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the squeeze casting specific pressure and heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical property of the Al–Si–Fe–Mn–Mg–Cu alloy flywheel shells was also analyzed. The results showed that at the thick-walled positions, local loading not only helped eliminate the solidification defects, but also refined the microstructure including α-Al grains and secondary dendrite arm spacing. With increasing the squeeze casting specific pressure from 24 MPa to 32 MPa, microstructure refinement and mechanical property enhancement of squeeze casting flywheel shells were obtained. After T6 heat treatment, the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of flywheel shells were further increased to 261.8 and 318.4 MPa, respectively, owing to the formation of spherical eutectic Si phases and nano-sized β'', Q and S precipitates.

KW - Al–Si–Fe–Mn–Mg–Cu alloy

KW - Local loading

KW - Refinement

KW - Solidification defects

KW - Squeeze casting

KW - Strengthening mechanism

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85192073043&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jmst.2023.12.082

DO - 10.1016/j.jmst.2023.12.082

M3 - Article

VL - 200.2024

SP - 215

EP - 226

JO - Journal of Materials Science & Technology

JF - Journal of Materials Science & Technology

SN - 1005-0302

IS - 20 November

ER -