Considerations on the reliability of advanced squeeze casting process

This paper presents an analysis of an advanced squeeze casting process suitable for the manufacturing of high performance industrial components more quickly and cheaply. After a short description of the process, some produced components are considered. The components, in A380 alloys, have been T6 heat treated and their soundness has been certified by non destructive tests. All considered components have been designed for advanced application in the automotive field, in particular for quite important sport cars. Standard samples for tensile and impact tests have been machined directly from the previous components. After the execution of the tests the fracture surface of samples has been observed by SEM in order to analyze details and to evaluate the influence of the process and of the alloy on the fracture behaviour. On polished transverse sections of samples the microstructure of the alloy has been observed, highlighting a mainly globular shaped microstructure as expression of the attained semi-solid conditions during the processes. A critical analysis has been developed to compare the real potentiality and some criticism of the process.