Abstract:
A method of making an aluminum alloy containing zirconium includes heating a first composition comprising aluminum to a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 580° C. to less than or equal to about 800° C. The method further includes adding a second composition including a copper-zirconium compound to the first composition to form a third composition. The copper-zirconium compound of the second composition has a molar composition of greater than or equal to about 41% zirconium to less than or equal to about 67% zirconium and a balance of copper. The method also includes solidifying the third composition at a cooling rate of greater than or equal to about 0.1° C./second to less than or equal to about 100° C./second to a second temperature less than or equal to a solidus temperature and decomposing the copper-zirconium compound at a third temperature of less than or equal to about 715° C.
Abstract:
A method for additive manufacturing of an article using pressurizing gas in an enclosure including introducing additive manufacturing equipment into the enclosure before sealing and removing air from the sealed enclosure to obtain a predetermined oxygen threshold. Next, the sealed enclosure is pressurized to obtain a predetermined pressure threshold using an inert gas. When the predetermined pressure threshold is obtained, the article is constructed using additive manufacturing.
Abstract:
A sand casting apparatus, a method of forming a sand casting apparatus, and an automotive component are provided. The sand casting apparatus includes a sand casting base comprising a sand mold and/or a sand core comprising a base sand mixture, where the base sand mixture includes a sand material and a binder material. The sand casting apparatus further comprises an outer layer disposed on the sand casting base. The outer layer comprises silicon, magnesium, calcium, zirconium, manganese, carbon, aluminum, and iron. The automotive component has portions defining an aperture therein. The automotive component is formed of cast iron and has a nodular graphite structure from interior matrix to surface, where the nodular graphite structure on the surface is formed by a sand core having an outer layer that has reacted with the cast iron automotive component to form the nodular graphite structured surface.
Abstract:
A number of variations may include at least one mold portion that may define a first cavity, a circular gating system, and at least one sprue. The circular gating system may surround the first cavity and define a continuous in-gate from the circular gating to the first cavity. The at least one sprue and at least one vent may be in fluid communication with the circular gating system and the first cavity.
Abstract:
A quantitative metallographic method to measure skin layer thickness in high pressure die cast aluminum components. Because the faster-cooling skin layer region exhibits a higher volume fraction of eutectic phases than that of a slower-cooling inner region, measurements showing such higher eutectic phases can be used to quantify such layer thickness. An image at various thicknesses of a location of interest in a cast component sample is first obtained using an image analyzer, from which eutectic volume fractions within each of the received images may be determined. Comparisons of the determined volume fractions can be made against a known or predicted quantity for a particular alloy composition, and then correlated to the skin layer thickness via differences between the received or measured quantities and those of the known standard.
Abstract:
Integrated devices and methods for compensating electric grade steel lamination stack height for use in a conventional two-plate high pressure die cast tool used for casting aluminum induction rotors. These devices and methods allow for significant variation in the lamination stack height without associated failures related to stack height variation, and also ensure constant and accurate clamping pressure on both the OD and ID of the steel lamination stack which prevents electric insulation damage, metal flow between laminations, large casting metal flash, and tool damage for excessive height laminations stacks. The clamping pressure is adjustable and is actuated from a single hydraulic cylinder which allows for a wide range of pressures to accommodate fine adjustment of clamping pressure to insure no damage occurs to the laminations.
Abstract:
A quantitative metallographic method to measure pore sizes and pore distributions in cast aluminum components. An image of a location of interest in a cast component sample is first obtained using an image analyzer. Spacing criteria, such as a measure of the secondary dendrite arm spacing, may be used with the received image to provide evidence of pore clustering. This allows the system to performing calculations to determine if multiple pores can be clustered or grouped together as a single pore in three-dimensional space. From this, the total area of the pores in each of these groups or clusters is calculated and used as a representation of the pore area for that cluster. In general, pore size and pore distribution measurements in cast components achieved by the present invention show accurate predictions of pore size and spacing, and in particular evidence a reduced tendency to under-predict the size and distribution of actual pores.
Abstract:
A battery pack assembly includes a battery pack enclosure, a first cooling plate, a plurality of battery cells, and a plurality of second cooling plates. The first cooling plate is supported by the floor within the battery pack enclosure, and the first cooling plate is formed of graphene aluminum composite. The plurality of battery cells is supported by the first cooling plate, and the first cooling plate is disposed between the floor of the battery pack enclosure and the plurality of battery cells. The second cooling plates are disposed between each of the battery cells, and the second cooling plates are formed from graphene aluminum composite.
Abstract:
Systems, methods, and assemblies for forming or employing closed-loop laser-welds are described. Closed-loop laser-welds may be formed by, for example, actuating a laser on a substrate at a first point to initiate a weld and scanning the laser along a starting weld path, along a main weld path, and along an ending weld path. The starting weld path is from the first point to a second point. The main weld path is from the second point to a third point. The ending weld path is from the third point to a fourth point. The laser is scanned from the second point to the third point such that a bead of the main weld path defines an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. The outer perimeter defines a closed-loop laser weld. The first point and the fourth points are within the inner perimeter.
Abstract:
An aluminum alloy for high pressure die casting of ultra-large vehicle body structures. The aluminum alloy includes about 4.00 to about 12.00 weight percent silicon (Si); about 0.20 weight percent maximum (Max) copper (Cu); about 0.40 weight percent Max magnesium (Mg); about 0.20 to about 0.60 weight percent iron (Fe); about 1.00 weight percent Max manganese (Mn); about 0.50 weight percent Max zinc (Zn); about 0.02 weight percent Max strontium (Sr); about 0.50 weight percent Max cerium (Ce); about 0.01 weight Max percent boron (B); and a remaining weight percent aluminum (Al). The aluminum alloy provides an as-cast yield strength of greater than 130 Megapascals (MPa), ultimate tensile strength of greater than 260 MPa, and elongation of greater than 6% without the need for heat treatment.