Aluminium Foundry Practice METAL WEB NEWS（金属铝铸造实践网络新闻）.pdf

Aluminium Foundry Practice Amit M Joshi Dept. of Metallurgical Engineering Materials Science, Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IIT – Bombay), India. Email: amitjoshi@iitb.ac.in , mechamit2002@yahoo.co.uk Fabrication processes are used to shape, machine and join metals. The metal which is operated is in the form of an ingot obtained by reducing or refining the metal ore. The fabrication processes are basically casting, forging, metal machining, metal joining and finishing. Fabrication of parts with other methods is time consuming. Casting is a fast way to produce the desired shape. Three steps are involved in a casting process: 1) heating metal till it becomes molten 2) pouring molten metal into a mould 3) allowing the metal to cool and solidify in the shape of the mould. Casting is used in the automobile industry to produce engine blocks or cylinder heads. Metal casting is vital to our economy and security. Different metals are cast by many different processes for different applications. Cast metal products and processes offer advantages unavailable from products made by other metal forming and fabricating techniques. Castings are used in areas like transportation, aerospace, defense, mining, construction, maritime, fluid power, domestic household. Some cast components include: engine blocks, suspension parts for automobiles fluid flow components like valves, pumps, pipes, and fittings. To cut the emissions there is a need to improve the fuel efficiency and make the vehicle lighter in weight. Non ferrous metal like aluminium is lighter than steel and has density one third of that of steel. Aluminium has a lower density of 2.7 gm/cc compared to 7.8 gm/cc of steel. Aluminum and aluminum alloys are lightweight with good corrosion