Al-4.5Cu alloys are widely used in aerospace industries due to their low weight and high mechanical properties. This group of aluminium alloys is known as 2xx series and exhibits the highest mechanical properties however this alloy is known to suffer from feedability and high tendency for hot tearing. Al-Si alloys (3xx) have improved fluidity and better feedability particularly by several modifications such as Ti, B or Sr. Eutectic temperature is decreased and mechanical properties can be enhanced. Yet, the strength values of this alloy group cannot reach the values of 2xx series. Therefore, in this study, the effect of Ag addition on the fluidity of Al-4.5Cu alloy has been investigated. Standard size spiral mould was used. The casting temperature was selected to be 770oC. Five castings were made and Weibull statistical approach was used to evaluate the results. In addition, coating of the die with BN was also investigated. It was found that Ag addition and BN coating of the die revealed the most reproducible, reliable and high fluidity values.

The purpose of this study is to identify relationships between the values of the fluidity obtained by computer simulation and by an experimental test in the horizontal three-channel mould designed in accordance with the Measurement Systems Analysis. Al-Si alloy was a model material. The factors affecting the fluidity varied in following ranges: Si content 5 wt.% – 12 wt.%, Fe content 0.15 wt.% – 0.3wt. %, the pouring temperature 605°C-830°C, and the pouring speed 100 g · s–1 – 400 g · s–1. The software NovaFlow&Solid was used for simulations. The statistically significant difference between the value of fluidity calculated by the equation and obtained by experiment was not found. This design simplifies the calculation of the capability of the measurement process of the fluidity with full replacement of experiments by calculation, using regression equation.

This paper presents the results of measurements of liquid metal fluidity and linear shrinkage of nickel alloy IN-713C in vacuum induction

melting furnace Balzers VSG-2. Because of limited volume of the furnace chamber special models for technological trials were designed

and constructed to fit in the mould of dimensions 170x95x100mm. Two different designs of test models were proposed: horizontal round

rods and modified spiral. Preliminary studies were carried out for alloys Al-Si. Horizontal round rods test was useful for evaluation of

fluidity of hypoeutectic silumin, however in case of nickel superalloy the mould cavity was completely filled in each test because of high

required pouring temperature. Positive results were obtained from the modified spiral test for all alloys used in the research. Relationship

between the linear shrinkage for the test rod and a specific indicator of contraction defined on a spiral was observed.

The fluidity is the term to determine the materials ability to fill the mold cavity properly. Fluidity is complex property with many variables. Up to this date, there is no methodology for defining the fluidity in a semisolid material state. Submitted paper deals with the proposal of a new method designed for aluminium alloy fluidity evaluation in semi-solid state trough the design of the layered construction die. Die will be primary used for fluidity tests of semi-solid squeeze casted aluminium alloy and to observe the pressing force flow by mentioned casting technology. The modularity consists of possibility to change each die segment. In the experiment the die design was evaluated by simulation in ProCAST 11.5 and by production of experimental castings. The die was made by laser cutting technology from construction steel S355JR. Experimental material was aluminium alloy AlSi7Mg0.3. The temperature of the semisolid state was chosen to achieve 35% of solid phase. The result of next study should be a selected parameters observation and their effect on the fluidity of aluminium alloy in semi-solid state. This will be very important step to determine the optimal conditions to achieve a castings with certain wall thickness produced by the method of semi-solid squeeze casting.