Abstract
Aluminum is becoming increasingly competitive with iron as the material of choice in automotive applications. Consequently, the heat treatment of aluminum for automotive applications is receiving considerable attention. Current technology uses convective solution treating, water quenching, and convective aging equipment to achieve a T6 or T7 heat treatment. Adding to the complexity of the heat treatment is the fact that most aluminum castings are produced using foundry sand with binders for the sand core and, in some cases, the outer sand mold. Because aluminum is poured at much lower temperatures than iron, the binders do not volatilize and remain inside the casting. Removing the sand becomes difficult and can create maintenance problems for conventional heat-treating equipment. When the core is mechanically reFigure 1. The fluidization principle. Heat Treating Aluminum with FluidBed Quenching
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