Hot Tearing in Cast Aluminum Alloys

MPI and CANMET, both members of the Light Metal Alliance, launched a research project to study hot tearing in aluminum alloys. In this project, a reliable test method to quantitatively evaluate hot tearing was developed, and the processing variables affecting hot tearing tendency were also investigated. This paper summarizes the outcomes of this work from the following aspects: 1) Critical literature survey; 2) Experimental set-up, test methodology and procedures; 3) Effects of mold temperature and pouring temperature; 4) Effect of grain refinement; 5) Thermomechanical simulation of hot tearing.