Fundamentals of grain coalescence and applications to aluminum alloy industrial solidification processes

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Near-net-shape casting provides the most cost-effective way to manufacture light metal alloy components of complex shape. However, casting defects such as hot tearing reduce product quality and process efficiency. Hot tearing is characterized as a spontaneous failure of semi-solid metallic alloys due to the rupture of liquid films between grains, and occurs near the end of solidification where deformation becomes localized to the grain boundaries. The occurrence of hot tearing is intimately linked with the semi-solid's gradual evolution from isolated grains surrounded by liquid to a coherent and percolated solid network, a process known as grain coalescence. If grain coalescence is retarded and therefore finishes at lower temperatures, hot tearing susceptibility is significantly increased.***The objective of this Discovery Grant research program is to develop new knowledge of the process of grain coalescence, followed by application of the new knowledge to improve the quality of high-strength Al-Cu casting alloys that are used in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Over the next 5 years, my research team will utilize experimentation and simulation to quantify the influence of alloy content and processing parameters on the dynamic evolution of grain coalescence, and the impact of this process on semi-solid constitutive behaviour and hot tearing. Through this research, 7 HQP will be trained in developing processing/structure/defect phenomenological models, and in applying these relationships within mathematical models of aluminum alloy casting processes.***Research Approach: As a first step, a numerical model will be developed to predict grain coalescence. Concurrently, model materials with known microstructure will be created and then used as part of in-situ (restrained casting tests) and ex-situ (semi-solid tensile tests) characterization of the coalescence transition. Then, the experimental and numerical results will be used to propose a constitutive law of semi-solid mechanical behaviour based on the dynamic evolution of coalescence. Finally, the new tools will be applied to a finite element simulation of the sand casting process used to produce components made from B206 (an industrial Al-Cu casting alloy) for a tidal turbine application to demonstrate the improved ability to predict hot tearing in an industrial process.***Industrial Impact: Hot tearing is a major defect that lowers the productivity of aluminum alloy casting and wrought products. In many cases (e.g. high reliability complex shape castings), products cannot even be manufactured because of the high occurrence of this defect. The results of this research are anticipated to lead to a greatly improved understanding of coalescence and hence hot tearing, and will provide a predictive tool for use by industry in macro-scale process simulations of Al-Cu castings.**