Abstract
The axial fan blades used in underground mines are usually manufactured in AlSi12CuMgNi alloy (EN AC 48000). They must have a high mechanical strength to withstand the stresses resulting from the rotation speed of the rotor and a high resistance to erosive wear caused by suspended particles from underground mining and transport operations. The aim of this paper is to determine the most suitable thermal treatment to simultaneously improve their mechanical strength and erosive wear resistance. To this end, two solution treatments at 525 °C with cooling in water were analysed, as well as several ageing times at 170 °C. The crystalline phases present in the as-cast state were quantified by X-ray diffraction following quenching and different ageing processes. Furthermore, erosion wear resistance was measured by means of compressed air blasting with corundum particles according to ASTM G76 (2004). The highest wear resistance was obtained in the as-cast state using gravity die casting, with the presence of Al4Cu2Mg8Si7 and Al3CuNi. This wear resistance was higher than that obtained after the ageing treatment. However, a trade-off between mechanical strength and wear resistance was observed after 12 h ageing, where the hardness obtained exceeded 160 HV and the wear resistance became similar to that obtained in the as-cast state.
Highlights
Axial fan blades used to ventilate underground mines can be manufactured in aluminium alloys using the gravity die casting technique
Axial fan blades used in underground mining, manufactured from EN AC 48000 alloy by gravity
48000 from alloy the by die casting, must haveused both in a high mechanical strength to withstandfrom the forces resulting gravity die casting, must have both a high mechanical strength to withstand the forces resulting rotation speed of the rotor and a high resistance to erosive wear caused by suspended particles from the rotation speed of and the rotor and aoperations
Summary
Axial fan blades used to ventilate underground mines can be manufactured in aluminium alloys using the gravity die casting technique. These fans enable the supply of fresh air and the extraction of dust and gases resulting from underground operations, such as blasting and the mining, loading, and transport of ore. Al–Si alloys can be alloyed with Cu and Mg to promote their structural hardening by thermal treatment, rendering their use more favourable in applications with high structural requirements [3]. An ageing treatment is used to precipitate intermediate transition phases with a coherent interface from the matrix, hardening the alloy
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