How is the CNC Machining Aluminum Alloy Shell Heat Treated?

Another difference between the cast CNC aluminum alloy shell and the deformed aluminum alloy is that the wall thickness is uneven, and there are complex structural shapes such as special-shaped surfaces or internal channels.

In order to ensure that there is no deformation or cracking during heat treatment, special fixtures are sometimes designed for protection, and the temperature of the quenching medium is also higher than that of the deformed aluminum alloy, so artificial aging is generally used to shorten the heat treatment time. Heat treatment cycle to improve casting performance.

Why Should Aluminum Alloy be Heat Treated?

The purpose of heat treatment of aluminum alloy castings is to improve mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, stabilize dimensions, and improve machining performance such as cutting and welding.

Because the mechanical properties of many as-cast aluminum alloys cannot meet the application requirements, except for the Al-Si series ZL102 and Al-except for the Mg series ZL302 and Al-Zn series ZL401, other cast aluminum alloys must be heat treated to further improve Mechanical properties and other service properties of castings.

Aluminum Alloy Heat Treatment Method

1. Annealing Treatment

The effect of annealing treatment is to eliminate the casting stress of the casting and the internal stress caused by machining, stabilize the shape and size of the processed part, spheroidize part of the Si crystal of the aluminum-silicon alloy, and improve the plasticity of the aluminum alloy.

2. Quenching

Quenching is to heat the aluminum alloy castings to a higher temperature (generally close to the melting point of the eutectic, mostly above 500°C), and hold for more than 2 hours to fully dissolve the soluble phase in the alloy. Then quickly cool the castings in water at 60-100°C, so that the strengthening components are dissolved in the alloy to the greatest extent, and stored at room temperature. This process is called quenching, also known as solution treatment or cold treatment.

3. Aging Treatment

Aging treatment, also known as low temperature tempering, is a process of heating the quenched aluminum alloy castings to a certain temperature, holding it for a certain period of time, and cooling to room temperature to decompose the supersaturated solid solution and stabilize the alloy matrix.

4. Loop Processing

Cool the aluminum alloy casting to a temperature below zero (such as -50°C, -70°C, -195°C) and keep it for a certain period of time, and then heat the casting to below 350°C to cause the alloy's medium solid solution lattice to shrink and expand repeatedly , And a small amount of displacement of the crystal grains of each phase, so that the atomic segregation zone and intermetallic compound particles in the solid solution lattice are in a more stable state, and the size and volume of the product parts are more stable. This heat treatment process of repeated heating and cooling is called cyclic treatment. This kind of treatment is suitable for parts that require very precise and stable dimensions (such as certain parts on test instruments). Under normal circumstances, castings are not treated in this way.

5. Code of Heat Treatment State of Cast Aluminum Alloy

Code Alloy state Function or purpose of heat treatment

T1 Artificial aging alloys made of metals or green sand molds have obtained a certain degree of supersaturated solid solution due to the faster cooling rate, that is, they have a local quenching effect. Effective for improving the strength of alloys such as Zl104 and ZL105.

The main function of T2 annealing is to eliminate the internal stress of the casting (stress caused by casting stress and machining). It has obvious effect on Al-Si series alloys, the annealing temperature is 280-300℃, and the holding time is 2-4h.

T4 solution treatment (quenching) is the preliminary heat treatment for other alloys that require artificial aging. For Al-Mg alloys, it is the final heat treatment, for other alloys that require artificial aging, it is the preliminary heat treatment.

T5 solution treatment (quenching) and incomplete artificial aging can obtain higher strength and plasticity, but the corrosion resistance will decrease, especially the intergranular corrosion will increase.

T6 solution treatment (quenching) and full artificial aging to obtain the highest strength, but the plasticity and corrosion resistance are reduced. Suitable for parts requiring high load, the aging temperature is about 175-185℃, and the holding time is more than 5h.

T7 solution treatment (quenching) plus stabilized tempering is used to stabilize the size and structure of castings, improve corrosion resistance (especially stress corrosion resistance), and maintain high mechanical properties. Suitable for parts that work at high temperatures below 300°C, tempering temperature is 190-230°C, holding time 4-9h.

T8 solution treatment (quenching) plus softening and tempering makes the solid solution fully decompose, and the precipitated strengthening phase aggregates and spheroidizes to stabilize the size of the casting and increase the plasticity of the alloy, but the tensile strength is reduced. Suitable for castings that require high plasticity.

T9 cycle treatment is used to further stabilize the size and shape of the casting. The repeated heating and cooling temperature and the number of cycles should be determined according to the working conditions of the parts and the properties of the alloy. It is suitable for parts requiring precise and stable shape and size.

Summary

CNC machining heat treatment is effective to improve the high mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys, but it should be noted that not all aluminum alloys are suitable, such as Al-Si series ZL102, Al-Mg series ZL302 and Al-Zn Other than the ZL401 alloy.

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