Effect of ultrasonic degassing on performance of Al-based components
(CT2M – Centre for Mechanical and Materials Technologies, University of Minho, Guimar？es 4800-058, Portugal)
Abstract: The effect of high intensity ultrasound based on the novel multi-frequency multimode modulated technology on the final density, porosity, mechanical and fatigue properties of an AlSi9Cu3(Fe) alloy after different processing time was studied. Reduced pressure test was used to evaluate the density of alloys. The tensile and fatigue tests were used to evaluate the static and dynamic properties for the different time of ultrasonic degassing, respectively. It is found that ultrasonic degassing is effective in reduction porosity as well as to improve the final density of castings. Furthermore, the experimental results suggest that the porosity level does not have a substantial influence on the static properties contrary to what is observed on fatigue properties.
Key words: casting; ultrasound; degassing; porosity; fatigue