Design and Improvement of the Investment Casting Process for the Ring-shaped Aluminum Alloy based on PROCAST software

Abstract

The investment casting process of a ring-shaped ZL101 alloy is investigated based on PROCAST software, the alloy phase diagram and the thermophysical properties are analyzed. Besides, the initial casting temperature and the casting process were determined. After the analysis of the geometry model and temperature field model during the casting solidification process, results shows as: 1) the shrinkage and porosity is formed at the two sides and bottom end of casting pieces in the initial casting process, while slag inclusion is enriched at the top. 2) To avoid these two kinds of defects, the casting process is optimized and simulated. The simulated result is in compliance with the experiment, the agreement confirm that the improved process is reasonable. 3) The improved casting process is finally designed and the simulation shows that the experiment is in good agreement with the simulation results, which provides the actual guidence for the design of other casting pieces as well.