Development of the Low-Pressure Die Casting Process for an Aluminium Alloy Part

Abstract

The low-pressure die casting (LPDC) process was experimentally and numerically studied to produce AlSi7Mg0.3 components such as steering knuckles. Steering knuckles are important safety components in the context of a vehicle’s suspension system, serving as the mechanical interface that facilitates the articulation of the steering to control the front wheel’s orientation, while simultaneously bearing the vertical load imposed by the vehicle’s weight. This work focuses on the development of a numerical model in ProCAST®, replicating the production of the aforementioned part. The model analyses parameters such as the filling dynamics, solidification process, and presence of shrinkage porosities. For the purpose of evaluating the quality of the castings, six parts were produced and characterised, both mechanically (tensile and hardness tests) and microstructurally (porosity and optical microscopy analysis). When correlating simulation results with the available experimental data, it is possible to conclude that the usage of the LPDC process is a viable alternative to the use of steels and other metals for the production of very high-quality castings while using lighter alloys such as aluminium and magnesium in more demanding applications.