A Statistical Analysis of Evaporative Pattern Casting Process Parameters for the Production of Aluminum Alloy Components

Four process parameters were investigated with the aim of determining their influence on the mechanical properties of some test castings, bars, cylinders and plates. The influence was quantified in terms of percentage contribution. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), regression, main effects and interaction effects plots were employed to carry out the statistical analysis. As regards the tensile strength of the test castings, the geometry of components (GOC) dominated, contributing 90.83% and the pouring temperature (PT) contributed 91.90% influence on the hardness property. These dominating potentials of these twoparameters limited the interaction of the parameters studied in the research.

An Explorative Study of Fabrication of Al-Based Matrix Diamond Grinding Wheels by Vacuum Evaporative Pattern Casting

The possibility of using the new processing technique of vacuum evaporative pattern casting (V-EPC) process to fabricate the Al-Si based bonded diamond grinding wheels was explored in this paper. Distribution of diamond grits in the diamond/EPS composite pattern and in the grinding layer of the cast of the grinding wheel were analyzed. Microstructures and mechanical properties of the metal bonds and diamond composites fabricated by V-EPC process were studied. It is confirmed that thermal damage of the diamond grits did not occur. Strong bonding between metal bond and diamond grits can be produced. However, the uniformity of the distribution of diamond grits in the metal matrix should be further improved. Also, further hardening on the metal bond is necessity by trying other kinds of aluminum alloys.

The Research of Properties of Experimental Ceramic Layers

In the evaporative pattern casting process, the surface of a polystyrene pattern (Styrofoam) is coated with a ceramic layer. This ceramic layer, which coats the evaporative pattern, should have specific physiochemical properties including: resistance to thermal, chemical, and erosive activity of molten metal and proper permeability for gases which are produced by the evaporative polystyrene pattern. The article presents the research results of properties of experimentally selected ceramic layers applied on a polystyrene pattern in the evaporative pattern casting process.

Microstructure and Hardness of Surface Composite Layer Fabricated by Evaporative Pattern Casting Technology

Surface composite layer was fabricated on the cast steel matrix using the evaporative pattern casting (EPC) technology. The pre-coating with WC and Cr-Fe particles as raw reinforcements was reacted with matrix and formed the composite layer. Then, the microstructure and hardness of surface composite layer were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Olympus Microscope (OM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX) and Rockwell Apparatus. The results show that the composite layer can be divided into transitive layer and penetrated layer, and the component analysis shows that the microstructure distribution of the penetrated layer is homogeneous.