Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.64486/m.65.3.10

Improvement of Solidification Structure Uniformity in Al-Cu Alloy Casting Process

Xueting Li ; School of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Yantai Institute of Science and Technology Yantai 265600, China *

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Aluminum–copper alloys are core lightweight materials in aerospace applications; however, their casting is prone to grain size imbalance and Al₂Cu phase segregation. To address these issues, this study focused on an Al–6.07 wt.% Cu alloy and employed a three-factor, three-level orthogonal experimental design using squeeze casting. The effects of pouring temperature, forming pressure, and holding time on solidification uniformity were investigated using metallographic micros-copy, SEM, and EPMA. The results indicated that the optimal process parameters were a pouring temperature of 730 °C, a forming pressure of 170 MPa, and a holding time of 13 s, combined with aging at 120 °C for 4 h. Under these conditions, the grain size standard deviation (GSSD) of the surface and core was reduced to 7.3 μm and 13.5 μm, respectively, while the Al₂Cu phase segregation degree decreased to 0.14. Consequently, the tensile strength reached 342 MPa, with a microhardness of 120 HV. The study confirms that the proposed “pressure–temperature–solute” coupling mechanism effectively suppresses segregation, providing both theoretical insight and process guidance for the mass production of high-load-bearing alloy components.

Keywords

Al–Cu alloy; squeeze casting; solidification structure uniformity; process parame-ters; Al₂Cu phase

Hrčak ID:

344966

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/344966

Publication date:

1.7.2026.

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