Section thickness-dependant interfacial heat transfer in squeeze casting of aluminum alloy A443

Abstract

Five-step castings of aluminum alloy A443 with different section thicknesses (2, 6, 8, 10, 20 mm) were squeezed under a hydraulic pressure of 60 MPa. Temperatures inside the P20 steel die mold and at the casting surface were recorded by fine type-K thermocouples. A numerical solution, i.e. inverse method was employed to determine the casting-die interfacial heat transfer coefficients (IHTCs). The results show the IHTCs initially reached a maximum peak value followed by a gradually decline to a lower level. With the applied pressure of 60MPa, the peak IHTC values from steps 1 to 5 varied from 5629 W/m2K to 9419 W/m2K. The section thickness affected IHTC peak values significantly. Compared to the thin steps at upper cavity, the lower thick steps obtained higher peak IHTCs and heat flux values due to high local pressures and high melt temperature.