Welcome to SF blog ! Today we look into Dr. Apelian’s team paper review published by the AFS in 2016 on oxide inclusion detection methods for aluminum melt cleanliness. Then, we open with R&D work in progress by SF for hydrogen and oxide bi-film related porosity control in aluminum melt using thermal analysis. Which method do you use ?
In 2015-2016, our engineers were keeping their technical article reviews on private files but from now on through 2017, we decided to publish them right here for you . We want you to find high value into your free SF blog subscription. Are you among our dear subscribers ? Simply enter your e-mail on top of the right sidebar.
16 oxide inclusion detection methods in aluminum melt
Table below ( Apelian, 2016 ) compares 14 more or less effective oxide measurement techniques.
With laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy ( figure 1 ) and SF thermal analysis detection methods ( figure 2 ) both at R&D stage , in 2017 you’ll have 16 techniques to choose from for your aluminum quality control.
Figure 1 : Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is an interesting research project in development for aluminum quality control.
Dr. Campbell and al. ( Campbell, 2011 ) showed that it has become clear that hydrogen porosity cannot nucleate (either homogeneously or heterogeneously) without the presence of bifilms. That’s one of the main reason why SF considers the endothermal signature of porosity formation as the aluminum solidifies. At the current stage, SF are successful at predicting hydrogen levels using thermal analysis.
Figure 2 : Thermal analysis measurement of a) lower gas/bi-film porosity formation and b) higher gas/bi-film formation in A319 aluminum melt ( Sparkman, 2016 ). R&D work in progress by SF and funded by CQRDA.ca
So, which method do you use for your own aluminum melt quality control before you fill your castings ? SF invite you to share your experience with the community and help spread good foundry practices.
Subscribe now to SF for more technical paper reviews ! Next article will be on hot tensile foundry sand testing or on another technical paper reviewed by SF engineer.
Stay tuned !
References :
- Apelian, D. , INCLUSION DETECTION IN MOLTEN ALUMINUM: CURRENT ART AND NEW AVENUES FOR IN SITU ANALYSIS, published by AFS, 2016
- Campbell, J., Porosity, hydrogen and bifilm content in Al alloy castings, Elsevier, 2011
- Sparkman,D., Hydrogen Presence in Aluminum http://meltlab.com/downloads/HydrogeninAluminum.pdf, 2016