Patent application EP19182661A (EP), filed 2019-06-26
Publication number: EP3757239A1
Title: ALUMINUM CASTING ALLOY, ALUMINUM CAST COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN ALUMINUM CAST PIECE
Abstract: The invention provides an aluminum casting alloy which has the potential for an optimized combination of high mechanical properties and high electric conductivity and which has a high castability as well. This is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the aluminum casting alloy consists of (in % by mass), Ce: 0.2 - 3.0 %, Si: 0.5 - 1.5 %, Fe: 0.1 - 1.2 %, Mg: 0.2 - 1.0 %, optionally one or more elements taken from the group "Zn, Sr" the content of the respective optional element being, Zn: ≤ 0.8 %, Sr: ≤ 0.1 %, the remainder being Al and unavoidable impurities, said impurities optionally including elements from the group "Ti, Cr, Mn, V" the content of which is restricted in sum to less than 0.025 %.The invention also provides an aluminum cast component which has an optimized combination of high mechanical properties and high electric conductivity and a method which allows the reliable production of such aluminum components from an aluminum alloy according to the invention.
IPC codes: C22C  21/    00            A I
C22C  21/    02            A I
C22C  21/    04            A I
C22C  21/    08            A I
C22F   1/    04            A I
C22F   1/   043            A I
C22F   1/    05            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: An aluminum casting alloy consisting of (in % by mass)
number: 2
text: The aluminum casting alloy according to claim 1, characterized in that its minimum Ce-content amounts to 0.5 % by mass.
number: 3
text: The aluminum casting alloy according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its minimum Si-content amounts to 0.8 % by mass.
number: 4
text: The aluminum casting alloy according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its maximum Fe-content amounts to 1.0 % by mass.
number: 5
text: The aluminum casting alloy according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its minimum Zn-content amounts to 0.1 % by mass.
number: 6
text: An aluminum cast component for an electrical machine, the aluminum cast component being cast from an aluminum casting alloy alloyed in accordance to one of the preceding claims and having an electrical conductivity corresponding to at least 42 % IACS, a Brinell-hardness of at least 45 HB<10/500>, a yield strength ("YS") of at least 80 MPa, and an ultimate tensile strength ("UTS") of at least 150 MPa.
number: 7
text: The aluminum cast component according to claim 6, characterized int hat its electrical conductivity corresponds to at least 45 % IACS .
number: 8
text: The aluminum cast component according to claim 6 to 7, characterized in that its yield strength ("YS") amounts to at least 115 MPa.
number: 9
text: The aluminum cast component according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it is a cage for a squirrel cage rotor.
number: 10
text: Method for the production of an aluminum cast component comprising the following working steps:
number: 11
text: Method according to claim 10, characterized in that in working step b) the casting is performed as high pressure die casting ("HPDC"), which optionally is assisted by application of vacuum ("VAHPDC").
number: 12
text: Method according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that in working step c) for the air cooling the aluminum cast component is exposed to still air.
number: 13
text: Method according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that in working step c) for the air cooling the aluminum cast component is exposed to an air stream resulting in an average cooling rate of 200 - 400 °C/min in the cast aluminum component.
number: 14
text: Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that in working step d) the heat treatment of the aluminum cast component is performed as artificial aging at an aging temperature Ta of 200 - 240 °C for an aging time ta of 1.5 - 3.0 hours.
number: 15
text: Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that in working step d) the heat treatment of the aluminum cast component is performed as solution heat treatment at a solution heat treatment (SHT) temperature Ts of 475 - 520 °C for a solution heat treatment time ts of 0.5 -1.0 hours followed by forced air quenching, during which the aluminum cast piece is exposed to an air stream resulting in an average cooling rate of 200 - 400 °C/min in the cast aluminum piece, and an artificial aging at an aging temperature Ta of 200 - 240 °C for an aging time ta of 1.5 - 3.0 hours.
Office action: search_report, dated 2020-12-30
Prior art cited: ref_id: CN108754248A
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: - "Primary Aluminium Alloys for Pressure Die Casting - RHEINFELDEN ALLOYS", RHEINFELDEN ALLOYS GMBH & CO. KG
ref_type: npl
severity: background
ref_id: - LU ZHAO ET AL: "Thermodynamic Description of Al-Si-Mg-Ce Quaternary System in Al-Rich Corner and Its Experimental Validation", JOURNAL OF PHASE EQUILIBRIA AND DIFFUSION, SPRINGER NEW YORK LLC, US, vol. 39, no. 1, 15 November 2017 (2017-11-15), pages 57 - 67, XP036409332, ISSN: 1547-7037, [retrieved on 20171115], DOI: 10.1007/S11669-017-0607-Y
ref_type: npl
severity: background
ref_id: CN102383009A
ref_type: patent
severity: background
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ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: - YUNA WU ET AL: "Effect of Homogenization Temperature on Microstructure and Conductivity of Al-Mg-Si-Ce Alloy", JOURNAL OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND PERFORMANCE, ASM INTERNATIONAL, MATERIALS PARK, OH, US, vol. 25, no. 7, 13 May 2016 (2016-05-13), pages 2720 - 2726, XP035987083, ISSN: 1059-9495, [retrieved on 20160513], DOI: 10.1007/S11665-016-2121-5
ref_type: npl
severity: background
ref_id: - AO XIAO-HUI ET AL: "Effect of Ce addition on microstructures and mechanical properties of A380 aluminum alloy prepared by squeeze-casting", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS, METALLURGY AND MATERIALS, BEIJING KEJI DAXUE, CN, vol. 25, no. 5, 10 May 2018 (2018-05-10), pages 553 - 564, XP036500664, ISSN: 1674-4799, [retrieved on 20180510], DOI: 10.1007/S12613-018-1602-Y
ref_type: npl
severity: background
ref_id: CN102363850
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: CN102383009
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: - YUNA WU ET AL, "Effect of Homogenization Temperature on Microstructure and Conductivity of Al-Mg-Si-Ce Alloy", JOURNAL OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND PERFORMANCE, ASM INTERNATIONAL, MATERIALS PARK, OH, US, vol. 25, no. 7, doi:10.1007/S11665-016-2121-5, ISSN 1059-9495, (20160513), pages 2720 - 2726, (20160513), XP035987083 [A] 1-15 * 2. Experimental procedure *
ref_type: npl
severity: background
ref_id: - AO XIAO-HUI ET AL, "Effect of Ce addition on microstructures and mechanical properties of A380 aluminum alloy prepared by squeeze-casting", INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MINERALS, METALLURGY AND MATERIALS, BEIJING KEJI DAXUE, CN, vol. 25, no. 5, doi:10.1007/S12613-018-1602-Y, ISSN 1674-4799, (20180510), pages 553 - 564, (20180510), XP036500664 [A] 1-15 * 2. Experimental;; table 1 *
ref_type: npl
severity: background
Final disposition: pending (2020-12-30)