Materials cleanliness assessment in rheocasting : An investigation in the melt quality in aluminum alloy casting

Abstract: The use of aluminum is a key factor in creating an Eco-friendlier automotive industry. The material has good properties and the ability to reuse the material. The requirement on the material in this industry is very high, due to the exposed working environments. The usage of aluminum will reduce the vehicle’s weight, which in turn will reduce emissions.    Aluminum casting is not free from obstacles. The properties can be altered with different casting methods and the design of the casting to a great extent. This master will focus on how the melt quality will have an impact on the material properties and how it is changed during the process. To fully understand what happens to the melt during the casting process, samples are received at different stages for further investigation. Different data is collected to be able to analyze what happens during the process. A quality measurement called the Quality index is used to determine the change in the quality in the different stages. With data from bifilm and density index, conclusions can be made on how and where the impurities are entering the melt and their effect. A conclusion is made that the degassing harms the quality of the melt.