Abstract: An aluminum alloy for die casting parts used in automotive structural applications is provided. According to example embodiments, the alloy includes 0.6 to 2.0 wt. % manganese, 0.5 to 4.0 wt. % magnesium, 0.0 to 1.0 wt. % iron, 0.0 to 3.0 wt. % zinc, 0.0 to 3.0 wt. % silicon, 0.0 to 1.0 wt. % zirconium, 0.0 to 0.5 wt. % titanium and/or boron, 0.0 to 0.05 wt. % strontium, and 85.5 to 98.8 wt. % aluminum, based on the total weight of the aluminum alloy. The alloy maintains good characteristics during the casting process, including fluidity, manageable hot cracking, and anti-soldering. The alloy casting does not require a heat treatment process after the casting step to achieve acceptable mechanical properties. The aluminum alloy casting has a yield strength of at least 90 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of at least 180 MPa, and an elongation equal to or greater than 10% without heat treatment.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy for casting into a component, such as a vehicle component, is provided. The aluminum alloy includes 2 to 5 wt. % silicon, which is a lower amount of silicon compared to other aluminum alloys used for casting. The aluminum alloy further includes 1.0 to 2.0 wt. % zinc, less than 0.5 wt. % iron, and not greater than 0.6 wt. % manganese, based on the total weight of the aluminum alloy. The aluminum alloy can further include 0.01 to 0.07 wt. % strontium, 0.05 to 0.6 wt. % magnesium, not greater than 0.2 wt. % titanium, and less than 0.02 wt. % copper, based on the total weight of the aluminum alloy. After the casting step, the cast aluminum alloy has a yield strength of at least 110 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 220 to 230 MPa, and an elongation of 10 to 20%.

Abstract: A method for heat-treating a cast component composed of an aluminum base alloy, in which method the cast component is annealed at a predetermined annealing temperature for a predetermined annealing period in a first heat transfer medium and then transferred into a water bath. Between being annealed and transferred into the water bath, the cast component is transferred into a second heat transfer medium at a predetermined intermediate cooling temperature, where it is held for a predetermined intermediate cooling period.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy for casting into a component, such as an automotive vehicle component, is provided. The aluminum alloy includes a reduced amount of silicon (Si), specifically 0.1 weight percent (wt. %) to less than 7.0 wt. %, and preferably 4.0 wt. % or less, to achieve improved ductility and elongation. The aluminum alloy can also include additional alloying elements to achieve desired properties. For example, antimony, calcium, and/or bismuth can be included to counter any detrimental effect of the low silicon content on hot cracking behavior. Zinc can be added to increase strength; and cerium can be added to further increase ductility. The aluminum alloy is typically formed by modifying recycled wrought aluminum, such as a 5000 series or 6000 series aluminum alloy, or by modifying a recycled cast 300 series aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A method for heat-treating a cast component composed of an aluminum base alloy, in which method the cast component is annealed at a predetermined annealing temperature for a predetermined annealing period in a first heat transfer medium and then transferred into a water bath. Between being annealed and transferred into the water bath, the cast component is transferred into a second heat transfer medium at a predetermined intermediate cooling temperature, where it is held for a predetermined intermediate cooling period.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a cast component made of an aluminium diecasting alloy, in which the cast component is subjected to a heat treatment process after casting, wherein an aluminium diecasting alloy is used, by means of which the cast component has an elongation at break A5 of ?10% and a yield point Rp0.2 of <120 MPa, and wherein a single-step annealing process for stability is carried out at a temperature of 120-260° C., after which the heat-treated cast component has a break at elongation A5 of ?7% and a yield point Rp0.2 of ?110 MPa. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cast component which is produced in accordance with a method of this type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a cast component (10), in particular a diecast component, in particular made of an aluminium alloy, in which the cast component (10) is subjected, at least in part, to a heat treatment process following the casting process and removal of the cast component from its mould (12), wherein the cast component (10) is cooled immediately after reaching a target temperature (Ts) during the heat treatment or, before cooling, is heat-treated for a hold time (th) of up to 3 mins. The invention further relates to a system for producing a cast component (10) of this type.

Abstract: A vacuum die casting apparatus includes a casting cavity (10), which is evacuatable via a vacuum valve (26). A liquid casting material is pressable into the casting cavity by a piston (14) actuated by an actuator (17). A filling level sensor (20) detects a predetermined filling level of the casting material in the casting cavity. A control device (34) is connected to the filling level sensor for controlling the vacuum valve, and a position sensor (32) is connected to the control device (34) for detecting movement of the piston (14). The control device generates a closing signal for the vacuum valve (26) when the piston, after reaching the position (s1) at which the filling level sensor (20) indicates a predetermined filling level of the casting cavity (10) with casting material has been reached, is displaced in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A casting alloy of the AlMgSi type comprises Magnesium 3.0 to 7.0 wt. % Silicon 1.7 to 3.0 wt. % Manganese 0.2 to 0.48 wt. % Iron 0.15 to 0.35 wt. % Titanium as desired max. 0.2 wt. % Ni 0.1 to 0.4 wt % and aluminum as the rest along with production related impurities, individually at most 0.02 wt. %, in total at most 0.2 wt. %, with the further provision that the magnesium and silicon are present in the alloy in a Mg:Si weight ratio of 1.7:1, corresponding to the composition of the quasi binary eutectic made up of the solid state phases Al and Mg2Si, whereby the deviation from the exact composition of the quasi-binary eutectic amounts to at most −0.5 to +0.3 wt. % for magnesium and −0.3 to +0.5 wt. % for silicon the finely dispersed precipitates of the intermetallic phase Mg2Si results in high ductility.