Investigation of Particle Filtration in Aluminium Alloy

• Published in: Archives of foundry engineering 2021-01, Vol.21 (3), p.70
• Main Authors: Baumann, B, Keßler, A, Hoppach, E, Wolf, G, Szucki, M, Hilger, O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Computed tomography; Filtration; Mathematical models; Metal particles; Nonmetallic inclusions; Simulation; Three dimensional flow
• ISSN: 1897-3310; 2299-2944
• DOI: 10.24425/afe.2021.138668

The objective of this work is to gain a deeper understanding of the separation effects and particle movement during filtration of non-metallic inclusions in aluminum casting on a macroscopic level. To understand particle movement, complex simulations are performed using Flow 3D. One focus is the influence of the filter position in the casting system with regard to filtration efficiency. For this purpose, a real filter geometry is scanned with computed tomography (CT) and integrated into the simulation as an STL file. This allows the filtration processes of particles to be represented as realistically as possible. The models provide a look inside the casting system and the flow conditions before, in, and after the filter, which cannot be mapped in real casting tests. In the second part of this work, the casting models used in the simulation are replicated and cast in real casting trials. In order to gain further knowledge about filtration and particle movement, non-metallic particles are added to the melt and then separated by a filter. These particles are then detected in the filter by metallographic analysis. The numerical simulations of particle movement in an aluminum melt during filtration, give predictions in reasonable agreement with experimental measurements.