THE EFFECTS OF PRESSURE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF DIE CAST ALUMINUM ALLOYS
THE EFFECTS OF PRESSURE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF DIE CAST ALUMINUM ALLOYS
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Date
2013-02
Authors
OBIEKEA, Nnamdi Kenneth
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Abstract
A study of the effects of pressure on micro-structure and mechanical properties of die cast
aluminum alloys A1350 and A380 was carried out and subsequent analysis made. Pressure
was regulated at various levels in the die cast machine. Both alloys were cast into samples
each under different applied pressures. The mechanical properties of both alloys were
tested and microstructure analysis was done and the results for both tests were compared
for both alloys. The results obtained show hardness, tensile strength, yield strength and
impact strength of both alloys varied with applied pressure in the casting process. The
hardness values increased with applied pressure but not too significantly from 76 to 85
HRN for A380 alloy and 77 to 86 HRN for A1350 alloy as pressure rose from 350 to
1400kg/cm2. The yield strength of both alloys also increased with applied pressure. The
impact strength and elongation both decreased with applied pressure in both alloys. Also
the micro-structure analysis carried out on both alloys showed structural changes in the
morphologies of both alloys as some appeared granullar, lamellar, coarse e.t.c from
pressure 350 to 1400kg/cm2. Also as the pressure increased, the grains became finer and
porosity decreased.
Models were developed and for all the models developed, a close relationship with the
experimental results were underlying in view of the small errors generated by them and
can be used to predict the experimental values of this research.
Description
An M.Sc Thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Science
(Mechanical Engineering) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria.
February, 2013.
Keywords
EFFECTS,, PRESSURE,, MECHANICAL,, PROPERTIES,, MICROSTRUCTURE,, DIE CAST,, ALUMINUM,, ALLOYS