Porosity in Al Castings - Additonal For Moulding WM
Porosity in Al Castings - Additonal For Moulding WM
Porosity in Al Castings - Additonal For Moulding WM
Fernando Morales
José Talamantes-Silva
The main objective of this document is to help to identified the different types of porosity usually
present in Al castings. With a special focus on gas porosity and shrinkage porosity
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Porosity in Al Castings – Overview
Shrinkage Oxide
Bubble
Sub-Surface
porosity
Gas porosity
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Porosity in Al castings – Oxide inclusions
TYPES OF OXIDES
Although oxides in fact are classified as inclusions, these could also be manifested as porosity
There are two types of oxides:
= Oxides due to turbulence. Aluminium is highly reactive with Oxygen. It forms Al2O3 when it gets in contact
with air in the shape of spherical cavities of irregular foldings. These take place during liquid metal handling
and during the casting process
= Oxides (spinel) formed at the holding furnaces These are the result of the reaction between furnace
refractory and liquid metal (rather infrequent oxides). In contrast to oxides due to turbulence these are solid
inclusions and rather infrequent found in castings
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Porosity in Al castings – Oxides due to turbulence
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Morphology. Typically they are found in castings in the form of spherical or convoluted irregular
films (foldings). Both are isolated cavities visible to the naked eye after machining
Size. Oxides due to turbulence typically can go from fractions of millimetre up to centimetres in
the worst cases. Based on experience, most of visible oxides lie within 0.1 and 5 mm.
RISKS
Depending on its location and size, the presence of an oxide potentially could lead to a leak.
Usually these types of oxides are detected during casting leak test.
When oxides are visible after part machining (pan rail, deck face…) the main concerns are:
= Sealing. If the oxide is not located at a zone covered by a gasket this can considered as
“functional”. Otherwise, since these types of metallurgical defects are isolated these can be
repaired by the use of a filling material.
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How to identify a visible oxide due to turbulence after machining
1. IT IS TYPICALLY ISOLATED
Note that no other defects are present at the
surrounding areas
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How to identify a visible oxide due to turbulence after machining
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How to identify a visible oxide due to turbulence after machining
Rounded Spherical
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Typical turbulence oxides morphology - Irregular
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Typical turbulence oxides morphology - Rounded
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Typical turbulence oxides morphology - Spherical
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 1
A cavity was found in a cylinder head
after engine plant machining
Defect visible size is about 4 mm
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 1
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Isolated cavity - ~4mm
Irregular morphology
Foldings visible at defect surface
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 2
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 2
Closer look at
defect
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Isolated cavity - ~3mm
Irregular morphology
Foldings visible at defect surface
Polished defect
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 2
Closer look at
KEY CHARACTERISTICS defect
Polished defect
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 2
Closer look at
KEY CHARACTERISTICS defect
Polished defect
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 2 Closer look at
defect
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Isolated cavity - ~2mm
Rounded morphology
Foldings visible at defect surface
Polished defect
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Oxides due to turbulence – Case study 2
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Isolated cavity - ~2mm
Irregular morphology
Foldings visible at defect surface
Polished defect
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Porosity in Al castings – Oxides due furnace reactions with liquid Al
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Morphology. Typically they are found in castings in the form of solid hard inclusions (spinel)
formed at the holding furnaces
Size. These types of oxides rarely go beyond a couple of millimetres
RISKS
Since these oxides are actually spinel they are hard, but because of their small size present little or
no risk for part functionality
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How to identify a visible spinel oxide
SOLID INCLUSION
Since this is a material result of the reaction
between Al and furnace refractory no cavities
are observed. This is easily observed with the
help of a magnifying glass
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Porosity in Al castings – Dispersed isolated porosity
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Porosity in Al castings – Dispersed isolated porosity
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Porosity in Al castings – Salt and Pepper porosity
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Morphology. Pores are commonly spherical. However depending on several factors such as
solidification rate, Si modification and chemistry their shape might become irregular
Size. Maximum pore size for this type of porosity is not larger of 1 mm when observed in a
machined casting
Dependence on solidification rate. Although by volume the amount of Hydrogen is the same,
porosity appear to be larger in slow solidification areas. Thus for critical areas the use of chills
during the casting process is desirable to minimize maximum pore size
RISKS
This type of porosity is not interconnected. It presents a low risk of leakages
When salt and pepper porosity is visible after part machining the main concerns are:
= Sealing. If porosity is not located at a zone covered by a gasket this can considered as “functional”.
Otherwise, maximum pore size and mean porosity must be evaluated.
= Machining. Because the isolated nature of this type of porosity a robust solution to eliminate its
effects is to smear milling the affected area of the casting
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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How to identify Salt and Pepper porosity after machining
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Dispersed porosity – Case study 1
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Dispersed porosity – Case study 1
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Dispersed porosity – Case study 1 Polished area exposing real pores size
Note sharp edges in every pore
Morphology confirms hydrogen porosity
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Dispersed porosity – Case study 1 Pores with different surface finishing
Porosity is not observed after cubing (rough
machining)
Cubing
Smear milling significantly helps to cover pores
Polished at Lab
Smear milling
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Porosity in Al castings – Sand core-liquid metal interaction porosity
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Morphology. Pores are commonly spherical. However depending on several factors such as
solidification rate, Si modification and chemistry their shape might become irregular
Size. Maximum pore size for this type of porosity is not larger of 1 mm when observed in a
machined casting
Location. This type of porosity is very well defined in surrounding areas to sand cores
RISKS
This type of porosity is not interconnected. It presents a low risk of leakages
When sand core-liquid metal interaction porosity is visible after part machining the main concerns
are:
= Sealing. If porosity is not located at a zone covered by a gasket this can considered as “functional”.
Otherwise, maximum pore size and mean porosity must be evaluated.
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How to identify Sand core-liquid metal interaction porosity after machining
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How to identify Sand core-liquid metal interaction porosity after machining
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Porosity due to micro-oxides in the molten alloy
BACKGROUND
It is well known that Strontium (Sr) is added to the Al-Si alloys (3xx series in Nemak
case) to improve soundness- by eliminating shrinkages and changing the solidification
mode of the alloy. Thus characteristics such as mechanical properties and thermal
conductivity can be increased.
Sr modifies the silicon present in the 3xx series alloys. It changes Si morphology from
lamellar to fibrous if enough Sr is added.
A typical range for product cast at Nemak goes from 120 up to 180 ppm. Sr content
depends on:
= the level of silicon modification (AFS) specified in accordance with the client
= solidification rate at the area of interest
= alloy either primary or secondary (Sr effectiveness is affected by elements such as P)
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Porosity due to micro-oxides in the molten alloy
The AFS eutectic modification rating system
3 6
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3-D SEM image of Sr-modified silicon. Small Si
particles improve mechanical properties and
facilitate thermal and electrical conductivity.
= Sr master alloy additions to the melt do not make the molten alloy more prone to hydrogen
pick-up.
= Instead, any increase in microporosity is due to “how” the master alloy is added to the melt.
Actually this is true for any master alloy added to the molten aluminium (e.g. grain refiners).
If these are added to the melt without the proper furnace cleaning practices, the resulting
micro-oxides (induced by the skin of the rods, waffles, bricks or any of the available
presentations) nucleate porosity at the time the casting is produced and solidifies.
= If not removed, these micro-oxides accumulate in the furnace(s) and canals; and little by little
get into every casting that is produced. This could lead to an increase of porosity and
eventually to potential leaks and drop on mechanical properties.
= In other words: any alloying element (including Sr master alloys) added into the melt,
combined with deficient cleaning practices (or lack of filters) could lead to micro oxides which
eventually lead to higher levels of microporosity.
= Since Sr effectiveness fades (once added to the melt) it is important to find the right location
in the casting line that helps to achieve the desired Si modification level but minimizing the
amount of micro-oxides into the part during the casting process.
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Porosity due to micro-oxides in the molten alloy – Case study
Next slides (8 and 9) are shown as examples of this situation: micro-oxides nucleating
microporosity.
It is very important to note that the porosity inducing micro-oxides are due to the
molten metal preparation practices and are not the big oxides provoked by turbulent
filling
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Blue arrows indicate oxide location.
EDX shows the chemical elements present in the analysed area. Oxygen in red and Aluminium in grey. An Oxygen and
Aluminium rich phase is present inside
NEMAKthe pores. In
RESEARCH ANDother words: micro-oxides are observed.
DEVELOPMENT
JTS
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It is clear that micro-oxides nucleate porosity. Blue
arrows indicate these micro-oxides (microns in size).
Al location O location
EDX shows the chemical elements present in the analysed area. Oxygen in red and Aluminium in grey.
NEMAK RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT JTS
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Porosity due to Fe content in the alloy – Case study
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Tensile sample fracture after testing. Red
arrows indicate the presence of Fe-beta.
Note the large porosity associated to Fe-
beta plates.
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Tensile test sample fracture after testing.
Red arrows indicate the presence of Fe-
beta. Again this results in low mechanical
properties.
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Fe-a Chinese script morphology
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NEMAK RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT JTS
Fe-b platelets morphology
NEMAK RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT JTS
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Fe-a Chineese script morphology. Predendritic
nucleation, helping to nucleate Al-a.
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Porosity in Al castings – Shrinkages
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Morphology. Shrinkage porosity is form during part solidification. They are due to liquid metal
contraction during the solidification process. Suboptimal conditions during the casting process can
lead to this defect. It is in fact interconnected dendritic porosity. When observed they look as a
dense porosity cloud.
Size. Shrinkages size can go from milometers up to various centimetres.
RISKS
Depending on its location and size, the presence of shrinkages potentially could lead to a leaks.
Usually these are detected during casting leak test.
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How to identify shrinkage porosity after machining
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How to identify shrinkage porosity after machining
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Shrinkage porosity – Case study 1
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Dense concentration of interconnected
porosity found at the pan rail of a
cylinder head
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Shrinkage porosity – Case study 1
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
After polishing it is confirmed the
presence of shrinkage porosity
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Shrinkage porosity – Case study 1
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Comparing gas porosity vs shrinkage porosity
Polished samples
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Comparing gas porosity vs shrinkage porosity – SEM imaging
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Porosity in Al castings – Shrinkage
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Other type of shrinkage also takes place. In some
instances, when interactions with sand core gas or
air occurs a variant of shrinkage takes place known
as “worm-like”
They usually take place in corners and have a
morphology of pin holes.
They can be mistaken for oxides inclusions
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Porosity in Al castings – Shrinkage
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
When polished the defect has depth and it is
interconnected.
Difficult to assess at the naked eye
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Porosity in Al castings – Shrinkage
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Smooth surface, few dendrites are
observed.
Intermetallics such as Fe are observed
No presence of foldings, meaning that
no sign of turbulence is observed
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ASTM E-155 standard
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ASTM E-155 standard
This is used to characterize defects such as the one shown in image shown on the right
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ASTM E-155 standard
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ASTM E-155 standard
This is used to characterize defects such as the one shown in image shown on the right
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Porosity in Al castings – Other defects: Bubbles
Mechanism Trapped air bubble
During the casting process trapped air or sand
core gas (core blows) is not able to escape out
of the casting
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Case study 1: Bubbles
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Bubbles are frequently mistaken by
cracks, since only bubble trail is
observed in the casting
In this case close to a valve guide in a
cylinder head
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Case study 1: Bubbles
Bubble trail
Bubble trail
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
After sectioning the presence of a
bubble is clear
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Porosity in Al castings – Other defects: Inverse segregation
Combustion chamber
Dendritic segregation
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Porosity in Al castings – Other defects: Inverse segregation
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Porosity in Al castings – Summary
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