Understanding Melt Flow Behavior for Al-Si Alloys Processed Through Vertical Centrifugal Casting

Abstract

The objective of this article is to investigate the appearance, microstructure, and hardness of Al-Si alloys Al-12Si and Al-17Si in vertical centrifugal casting process. During rotation of the mold, molten metal flow affects the formation of uniform cylinder. In this study, flow of molten metal for Al-Si alloys at different rotational speeds is focused. It is found that for Al-17Si alloy a uniform cast tube is observed for 1000 rpm, whereas for Al-12Si it is at 1200 rpm; above and below these speeds, irregular cast tubes are formed. Finally, fine structured grain size with high hardness value is found in a uniform cast tube in comparison with others. � 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.