Alloy 296.0 is an aluminum permanent-mold casting alloy with higher silicon than 295.0, which reduces shrinkage and improves fluidity. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and application characteristics of this series alloy. Room-temperature aging characteristics for aluminum alloy 296.0-T4 and 296.0-T6 are also illustrated.

Aluminum casting in steel and iron permanent molds is used widely throughout industry, and the vast majority of permanent mold castings are made of aluminum and its alloys. There are several methods used to cast aluminum in permanent molds. This article focuses on permanent mold casting with molten aluminum fed by gravity, low pressure, vacuum and centrifugal pressure, and squeeze casting. It discusses the major variables that affect the life of permanent molds, including pouring temperature, casting shape, cooling methods, heating cycles, storage, and cleaning. The article reviews the basic components of mold coatings: refractory fillers, binder, and carrier. Casting defects and suggested corrective actions for permanent mold casting are summarized in a table. The article concludes with a discussion on thin-wall permanent-mold castings.

This article is a comprehensive collection of tables and curves that present data on the properties of aluminum castings. Data are presented to explain the physical properties such as ratings of castability, corrosion resistance, machinablity, and weldability for aluminum casting alloys. The article discusses the typical mechanical properties and mechanical-property limits for aluminum sand casting alloys, permanent mold casting and die casting alloys based on tests of separately cast specimens; and typical mechanical properties of premium-quality aluminum alloy castings and elevated-temperature aluminum casting alloys. It provides a list of the creep-rupture properties and fatigue strengths of separately sand cast test bars of alloy 201.0, alloy C355.0-T61, alloy A356.0-T61, and alloy 354.0-T61.

Aluminum casting alloys are the most versatile of all common foundry alloys and generally have the highest castability ratings. Aluminum alloy castings are routinely produced by pressure-die, permanent-mold, green and dry-sand, investment, and plaster casting. This article describes factors affecting the selection of casting process and the general designation system for aluminum alloys. It provides useful information on mechanical test methods, selection of proper test specimens for accurate test methods, characteristics of premium engineered castings, and advantages of hot isostatic pressing.

Aluminum casting alloys are the most versatile of all common foundry alloys and generally have the highest castability ratings. This article discusses the designation and classification of aluminum casting alloys based on their composition and the factors influencing alloy selection. Alloys discussed include rotor alloys, commercial duralumin alloys, premium casting alloys, piston and elevated-temperature alloys, general-purpose alloys, magnesium alloys, aluminum-zinc-magnesium alloys, and bearing alloys. Six basic types of aluminum alloys developed for casting include aluminum-copper, aluminum-copper-silicon, aluminum-silicon, aluminum-magnesium, aluminum-zinc-magnesium, and aluminum-tin. The article also describes the main casting processes for aluminum alloys, which include die casting, permanent mold casting, sand casting (green sand and dry sand), plaster casting, and investment casting. In addition, the article discusses factors affecting the mechanical and physical properties, microstructural features that affect mechanical properties, the effects of alloying, and major applications of aluminum casting alloys.

Aluminum casting alloys are among the most versatile of all common foundry alloys and generally have high castability ratings. This article provides an overview of the common methods of aluminum shape casting. It discusses the designations of aluminum casting alloys categorized by the Aluminum Association designation system. The article summarizes the basic composition groupings of aluminum casting alloy and discusses the effects of specific alloying elements and impurities. The characteristics of the important casting processes are summarized and compared in a table. The article presents the advantages and disadvantages of green sand casting, permanent mold casting, semipermanent mold casting, and high-pressure die casting. A discussion on other casting processes, such as investment casting, lost foam, plaster mold casting, pressure casting, centrifugal casting, and semisolid casting, is also included.

The 443 series of aluminum casting alloys have nominal silicon content of 5 wt% with various limits on iron, copper, manganese and magnesium. They are hypoeutectic AI-Si binary alloys with high ductility, very good corrosion resistance, good machinability, but only fair castability, and low strength. The alloys are used in castings where above average ductility coupled with excellent corrosion resistance is needed. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and application characteristics of these alloys.

This article provides information on metals that can be cast in permanent molds. It describes the advantages, disadvantages, applications, and design of permanent castings. Following a discussion on the factors considered in mold design and material selection, the article details the application of mold coatings and examines the effects of major processing variables on mold life. The variables that determine mold temperature and measures for controlling it are reviewed, and the effects of short-term and long-term variables on the dimensional accuracy of permanent mold castings are explained. The article concludes with a discussion on the factors influencing the surface finish on permanent mold castings.

Aluminum casting alloys are the most versatile of all common foundry alloys and generally have the highest castability ratings. This article provides an overview of the common methods of aluminum shape casting. These include gravity casting, die casting, sand casting, lost foam casting, shell mold casting, plaster casting, investment casting, permanent mold casting, squeeze casting, semisolid forming, centrifugal casting, and pressure die casting. The article presents several different factors on which the selection of a casting process depends. It discusses gating and risering principles in casting. The article concludes with information on premium engineered castings that provide higher levels of quality and reliability than in conventionally produced castings.

This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and applications characteristics of Al-Si-Mg high-strength casting alloys 356.0 and A356.0. Figures illustrate the variation of Charpy impact energy in A356-T6 castings as a function of solution time; and room-temperature aging characteristics for aluminum alloy 356.0-T4. Growth and hardness curves for aluminum alloy 356.0-T4 are also presented.

Alloy 713.0 is an aluminum-based casting alloy that ages at room temperature to provide high-strength sand and permanent-mold castings. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and fabrication characteristics of this 7xxx series alloy.

Aluminum alloys are primarily used for nonferrous castings because of their light weight and corrosion resistance. This article discusses at length the melting and metal treatment, structure control, sand casting, permanent mold casting, and die casting of aluminum alloys. It also covers the types and melting and casting practices of copper alloys, zinc alloys, magnesium alloys, titanium alloys, and superalloys, and provides a brief account on the casting technique of metal-matrix composites.

This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and tensile properties, and applications of Al-Si-Cu permanent-mold casting alloy 332.0.

The aluminum-tin alloys 850.0, 851.0, 852.0, and 853.0 are specialized compositions displaying excellent bearing characteristics under moderate loads and with effective lubrication. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and application characteristics of these alloys. Permanent-mold aluminum casting rotating-beam fatigue curves for 850.0-T101, 850.0-T5, and 852.0-T5 alloys are also presented.

The family of type 357 alloys contain the highest magnesium levels and are used where high strength is required. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and applications characteristics of Al-Si-Mg high-strength casting alloys.

The 391-type hypereutectic aluminum-silicon alloys are hypereutectic alloys designed for applications where excellent wear resistance is needed. They are similar to the 390 family of alloys, except for a low copper content to improve castability and corrosion resistance. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy and processing effects on mechanical properties of separately cast test bars of these alloys.

The aluminum alloy 336.0 is a high-silicon alloy suitable for applications where good high-temperature strength, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and good resistance to wear are required. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, fabrication characteristics, and application characteristics of this 3xxx series alloy.

Alloy 308.0 is an Al-Si-Cu alloy used in sand and permanent mold casting. This datasheet provides information on key alloy metallurgy, fabrication characteristics, processing effects on physical and mechanical properties, and applications of this alloy.

This article discusses the categories and subcategories of shape casting processes. These include single-use processes such as sand, plaster, ceramic, and graphite molding; essentially unpressurized multiuse processes, such as permanent mold; and high-pressure metal mold methods, such as die casting, squeeze casting, and semisolid processing. The article contains tables that compare some of the typical capabilities of shape casting processes.