In this work,the influences of surface layer slurry at different temperatures(10℃,14℃,18℃,22℃)on wax patterns deformation,shrinkage,slurry coating characteristics,and the surface quality of the casting were invest...In this work,the influences of surface layer slurry at different temperatures(10℃,14℃,18℃,22℃)on wax patterns deformation,shrinkage,slurry coating characteristics,and the surface quality of the casting were investigated by using a single factor variable method.The surface morphologies of the shell molds produced by different temperatures of the surface(first)layer slurries were observed via electron microscopy.Furthermore,the microscopic composition of these shell molds was obtained by EDS,and the osmotic effect of the slurry on the wax patterns at different temperatures was also assessed by the PZ-200 Contact Angle detector.The forming reasons for the surface cracks and holes of thick and large ZTC4 titanium alloy by investment casting were analyzed.The experimental results show that the surface of the shell molds prepared by the surface layer slurry with a low temperature exhibits noticeable damage,which is mainly due to the poor coating performance and the serious expansion and contraction of wax pattern at low temperatures.The second layer shell material(SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3))immerses into the crack area of the surface layer,contacts and reacts with the molten titanium to form surface cracks and holes in the castings.With the increase of the temperature of surface layer slurry,the damage to the shell surface tends to weaken,and the composition of the shell molds'surface becomes more uniform with less impurities.The results show that the surface layer slurry at 22℃is evenly coated on the surface of the wax patterns with appropriate thickness,and there is no surface shell mold rupture caused by sliding slurry after sand leaching.The surface layer slurry temperature is consistent with the wax pattern temperature and the workshop temperature,so there is no damage of the surface layer shell caused by expansion and contraction.Therefore,the shell mold prepared by the surface layer slurry at this temperature has good integrity,isolating the contact between the low inert shell material and the titanium liquid effectively,and the ZTC4 titanium alloy cylinder casting prepared by this shell mold is smooth,without cracks and holes.展开更多
This paper discusses an experimental investigation into the fluidity of AZ91D-1 wt.%Ca O magnesium melt via induction for thin-section investment casting.Plaster molds with thin spiral cavities(0.5 to 1.5 mm square se...This paper discusses an experimental investigation into the fluidity of AZ91D-1 wt.%Ca O magnesium melt via induction for thin-section investment casting.Plaster molds with thin spiral cavities(0.5 to 1.5 mm square sections)were designed and manufactured to assess the impact of casting conditions on filling length,as magnesium alloys cause severe melting and melt-mold exothermic reactions,making investment casting challenging.Combinations of traditional Mg-mold reaction mitigation techniques,such as applying a protective mold coating(Yttria)and vacuum,were examined to determine their role in the filling process.The results suggest that when induction is employed to melt reactive alloys,these methods are not always beneficial,as initially thought.Particularly at higher melt temperatures,the combination of Yttria-coated molds with low-pressure vacuum induction significantly reduce fluidity:vacuum induced melt levitation which promotes oxidation with the residual atmosphere;and Yttria-coating cracking due to thermal stress during the mold fabrication slows filling and promotes significant melt-mold reaction.This study shows that best results to investment cast thin-sections are obtained by avoiding both vacuum and protective coatings,providing a viable route for the precision manufacturing of stent biomedical devices.展开更多
In order to conform to dimensional tolerances, an efficient numerical method, displacement iterative compensation method, based on finite element methodology （FEM） was presented for the wax pattern die profile desig...In order to conform to dimensional tolerances, an efficient numerical method, displacement iterative compensation method, based on finite element methodology （FEM） was presented for the wax pattern die profile design of turbine blades. Casting shrinkages at different positions of the blade which was considered nonlinear thermo-mechanical casting deformations were calculated. Based on the displacement iterative compensation method proposed, the optimized wax pattern die profile can be established. For a A356 alloy blade, substantial reduction in dimensional and shape tolerances was achieved with the developed die shape optimization system. Numerical simulation result obtained by the proposed method shows a good agreement with the result measured experimentally. After four times iterations, compared with the CAD model of turbine blade, the total form error decreases to 0.001 978 mm from the orevious 0.515 815 mm.展开更多
With the advent of Industry 4.0, more and more investment casting enterprises are implementing production manufacturing systems, especially in the last two years. This paper summarizes three new common requirements of...With the advent of Industry 4.0, more and more investment casting enterprises are implementing production manufacturing systems, especially in the last two years. This paper summarizes three new common requirements of the digital management aspect in precision casting enterprises, and puts forward three corresponding techniques. They are: the production process tracking card technology based on the main-sub card mode; the workshop site production process processing technology based on the barcode; and the equipment data integration technology. Then, this paper discusses in detail the principle, application and effect of these technologies; to provide the reference for enterprises to move towards digital casting and intelligent casting.展开更多
Turbine blade is one of the critical components of aircraft engine.The performance of the engine depends on the shape and dimensions of components,but superalloy blade material cannot be easily machined.Although inves...Turbine blade is one of the critical components of aircraft engine.The performance of the engine depends on the shape and dimensions of components,but superalloy blade material cannot be easily machined.Although investment casting is an ideal process for such net-shape components,it requires an accurate determination of the casting-die profile.In this paper,a reversing design methodology for investment casting die using ProCAST is proposed.By combining the methods of simplifying grid files and quick sorting,the efficiency of sorting and matching can be largely improved.Further,the mould/die cavity anti-deformation system can be easily built.With ProCAST,the optimized die profile for investment casting can be established.展开更多
Casting technology of thin-wall TiAl alloy turbochargers was studied by investment casting and numerical simulation.Misruns and gas holes were the main defects observed in preliminary work due to the poor fluidity of ...Casting technology of thin-wall TiAl alloy turbochargers was studied by investment casting and numerical simulation.Misruns and gas holes were the main defects observed in preliminary work due to the poor fluidity of alloy,and to gas entrapment.In order to eliminate these defects,cast parameters,such as centrifugal rotation rate and mould preheating temperature,were optimized by numerical simulation,meanwhile,the structure of the shell mould was optimized to improve the filling capacity of TiAl alloy.Pouring experiments were carried out by vacuum induction melting furnace equipped with a water-cooled copper crucible based on the above optimization.The quality of the TiAl alloy casting was analyzed by fluorescent penetrant inspection and X-ray detection.The results show that a centrifugal rotation rate of 200 rpm,mould preheating temperature of 600°C,shell preparation through organic fiber addition can dramatically improve the mould filling capacity,and integrated turbochargers were finally prepared.展开更多
Bridgman directional solidification of investment castings is a key technology for the production of reliable and highly efficient gas turbine blades. In this paper, a mathematical model for three-dimensional （3D） s...Bridgman directional solidification of investment castings is a key technology for the production of reliable and highly efficient gas turbine blades. In this paper, a mathematical model for three-dimensional （3D） simulation of solidification process of single crystal investment castings was developed based on basic heat transfer equations. Complex heat radiation among the multiple blade castings and the furnace wall was considered in the model. Temperature distribution and temperature gradient in superalloy investment castings of single blade and multiple ones were investigated, respectively. The calculated cooling curves were compared with the experimental results and agreed well with the latter. It is indicated that the unsymmetrical temperature distribution and curved liquid-solid interface caused by the circle distribution of multiple turbine blades are probably main reasons why the stray grain and other casting defects occur in the turbine blade.展开更多
Investment casting has been widely recognized as the best option in producing TiAl components with key benefits of accuracy,versatility and integrity.The collapsibility of ceramic moulds for investment casting is crit...Investment casting has been widely recognized as the best option in producing TiAl components with key benefits of accuracy,versatility and integrity.The collapsibility of ceramic moulds for investment casting is critical in the manufacturing process of TiAl components due to TiAl's intrinsic brittleness at room temperature.The aim of the present research is to provide a method for production of TiAl components by investment casting in ZrO2 ceramic moulds with improved collapsibility.Slurries prepared with high polymer additions were utilized during the preparation of ceramic moulds.The stress/strain curves obtained from green and baked ceramic moulds demonstrate that the green strength was increased with the application of high polymer,while baked strength decreased,thus the collapsibility of ceramic moulds was improved.It is suggested that this result is related to the burn-out of high polymer which left a lot of cavities.The experimental findings were also verified by the investment casting of "I"-shaped TiAl components.展开更多
In order to reduce the shrinkage porosity of nickel-based superalloy castings in the investment casting process,the effects of different gating systems on mold filling,solidification process,and prediction of shrinkag...In order to reduce the shrinkage porosity of nickel-based superalloy castings in the investment casting process,the effects of different gating systems on mold filling,solidification process,and prediction of shrinkage porosity of aero-engine turbine nozzle castings were investigated by simulation and experimental methods.Results show that the design of the vertical runner would cause greater turbulence of the melt in the riser during the mold filling process,and the outer runner is not necessary.With the decrease in number of runners,the hot spot moves down towards the casting,and the shrinkage and porosity defects are formed in the casting below the riser.In the original designs,a certain tendency of shrinkage and porosity defect is found in the vanes,inner rings,and outer rings of the castings by both simulation prediction and experiment.Finally,based on the processing optimization,the aero-engine turbine nozzle casting with no shrinkage and porosity defects is obtained.展开更多
Using silica sol as a binder for titanium investment casting is very attractive due to its good stability and reasonable cost as compared with yttrium sol and zirconium sol. However, the mechanism of interface reactio...Using silica sol as a binder for titanium investment casting is very attractive due to its good stability and reasonable cost as compared with yttrium sol and zirconium sol. However, the mechanism of interface reaction in the related system remains unclear. In this investigation, the interface reaction between Y_2O_3-SiO_2(YSi) shell mold and titanium alloys was studied. A group of shell molds were prepared by using Y_2O_3 sand and silica sol with different contents of SiO_2. Ti-6Al-4V alloy was cast under vacuum by gravity casting through cold crucible induction melting(CCIM) method. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDS) were employed to characterize the micromorphology and composition of the reaction area, respectively X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was used to confirm the valence state of relevant elements. White ligh interferometer(WLI) was used to obtain the surface topography of Y-Si shells. The results show that the thickness of reaction layers is below 3 μm when the SiO_2 content of silica sol is below 20 wt.%. Whereas, when the SiO_2 content increases to 25 wt.%, the thickness of the reaction layer increases sharply to about 15 μm. There is a good balance between chemical inertness and mechanical performance when the SiO_2 content is between 15 and 20 wt.%. Moreover, it was found that the distribution of SiO_2 and the roughness at the surface of the shell are the key factors that determine the level of reaction.展开更多
The three dimensional solidification simulation of the single crystal investment castings at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7 mm祄in was performed with the finite element thermal analysis method. The cal...The three dimensional solidification simulation of the single crystal investment castings at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7 mm祄in was performed with the finite element thermal analysis method. The calculated results were in accordance with the experimental ones. The results showed that with the increase of with-drawal rate the concave curvature of the liquidus isotherm was bigger and bigger and the temperature gradient of the castings decreased. No effects of withdrawal rate on the distribution of the temperature gradient of the starter and helical grain selector of the castings were observed at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7mm祄in. The relatively high temperature gradient between 500癈礳m and 1000癈礳m in the starter and helical grain selector was obtained at three withdrawal rates. The study indicates the three dimensional solidification simulation by finite element method is a powerful tool for understanding solidification and predicting defects in single crystal investment castings.展开更多
The pH value and viscosity of Y2O3-SiO2 （Y-Si） slurry made by Y2O3 powders and silica sol for the face coat of Ti-6Al-4V investment casting were measured. The thermal behavior of the shell made by the Y-Si face coat...The pH value and viscosity of Y2O3-SiO2 （Y-Si） slurry made by Y2O3 powders and silica sol for the face coat of Ti-6Al-4V investment casting were measured. The thermal behavior of the shell made by the Y-Si face coat system was investigated by differential scanning calorimeter （DSC）, thermal gravimetric （TG） analysis combined with mass spectrometry （MS）, and the phase transformations were determined by X-ray diffraction （XRD）. Hot strength, residual strength, linear expansion coefficient, and wearing resistance performance of the shell were also tested. The microstructure and elements distri- bution of the interaction layer were studied by scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy-dispersive spectrometer （EDS）, respectively. The microhardness tester was applied for the microhardness. The results showed that the slurry was stable for at least 60 h. A very small amount of YZrO3 was formed below 1050℃ and Y2SiO5 was formed around 1450℃. The shell made by Y-Si system had good mechanical property which could reduce cracks during the procedure of dewaxing and inclusions during pouring. Some Al volatilized from the melt, permeated the surface of the face coat shell, and formed the black reaction layer, which blocked the permeation of O so that O penetration was limited to 5μm. The depth of Si penetration was about 60 μm. The hard layer was also around 60 μm.展开更多
Using TiAl alloy to substitute superalloy is a hot topic in aeroengine industry because of its low density, high elevated temperature strength, and anti-oxidization ability. In this research, Ti-47.5AL-2Cr-2Nb-0.2B al...Using TiAl alloy to substitute superalloy is a hot topic in aeroengine industry because of its low density, high elevated temperature strength, and anti-oxidization ability. In this research, Ti-47.5AL-2Cr-2Nb-0.2B alloy was used as the test material. By applying a combination process of ceramic shell mold and core making, vacuum arc melting and centrifugal pouring, and heat isostatic pressing （HIP） and heat treatment （HT） etc., the TiAl vortex agitator casting for aeroengine was successfully made. This paper introduced key techniques in making the TiAl vortex agitator with investment casting process, provided some experimental results including mechanical properties and machinability, and explained some concerns that could affect applications of TiAl castings.展开更多
Turbine blades,produced by the directional solidification(DS)process,often require high dimensional accuracy and excellent mechanical properties.A critical step in their production is the fabrication of wax patterns.H...Turbine blades,produced by the directional solidification(DS)process,often require high dimensional accuracy and excellent mechanical properties.A critical step in their production is the fabrication of wax patterns.However,the traditional manufacturing process has many disadvantages,such as long-term production,low material utilization rate,and the high cost of producing a complex-shaped wax pattern.Selective laser sintering(SLS)is one of the most extensively used additive manufacturing techniques that substantially shortens the production cycle.In this study,SLS was adopted to fabricate the wax pattern instead of the traditional manufacturing process.The orthogonal experiment method was carried out to investigate the effects of laser power,scanning speed,scanning space,and layer thickness on the dimensional precision and morphologies of the SLS parts.The SLS parts showed a minimum dimensional deviation when laser power,scanning speed,scanning space,and layer thickness were 10 W,3000 mm·s^(-1),0.18 mm,and 0.25 mm,respectively.In addition,the tensile strength and fracture morphologies were closely associated with the laser volumetric energy density(VED).The tensile strength reached a maximum when the VED was 0.0762 J·mm-3,with an evident brittle fracture morphology.The wax pattern manufactured in this way meets the accuracy and strength requirements for investment casting.This research offers a novel path for the production of wax patterns for complex-shaped turbine blades by SLS.展开更多
The materials and physical properties of primary slurry are crucial to the surface quality of the finished castings,especially for high reactivity titanium alloys.The aim of this study is to investigate the influence ...The materials and physical properties of primary slurry are crucial to the surface quality of the finished castings,especially for high reactivity titanium alloys.The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different binders on the physical properties of primary slurry for titanium alloy investment casting.The zirconia-based slurries with different binders were evaluated by comparing the parameters:viscosity,bulk density,plate weight, suspensibility,gel velocity and strength.The results indicate that a higher viscosity of binder leads to a higher viscosity and suspensibility of slurry with the same powder/binder ratio.The retention rate and thickness of primary layer increase with an increase in the viscosity of the slurry,and a higher retention rate is associated with a thicker primary layer.The gel velocity of the slurry is correlated with the gel velocity of the binder.The green strength and the baked strength of the primary layer are determined by the properties of the binder after gel and by the production of the binder after fired,respectively.展开更多
High-porosity,open-cell AZ91 magnesium alloy foams of two pore sizes were fabricated by means of investment casting technology,using PUR foam patterns.Foam casting variables such as pressure,mould temperature and meta...High-porosity,open-cell AZ91 magnesium alloy foams of two pore sizes were fabricated by means of investment casting technology,using PUR foam patterns.Foam casting variables such as pressure,mould temperature and metal pouring temperature were thoroughly investigated to define the most optimal casting conditions.The mechanical properties of the fabricated foams were measured in compression tests.A potential application for the foams considered is temporary bioresorbable bone implants,therefore the mechanical properties of the foams were compared with those of cancellous bone tissue.Foams with smaller pore size and lower porosity(20 PPI and 80%±87%)exhibited mechanical properties in the lower regions of the cancellous bone property range(Young’s modulus 36.5±77.5 MPa),while foams with higher pore size and porosity(10 PPI and~90%)were found to have insufficient compression strength(Young’s modulus 11.65±23.8),but thickening their walls and lowering their porosity below 90%yielded foams with Young’s modulus between 36.5 and 77.5 MPa.Foam fractures were also investigated to determine their collapse mechanism.A series of corrosion tests in stimulated body fluid was carried out to determine their applicability as a biomaterial.The Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation(PEO)process was used in a feasibility study to examine the microstructure and chemical composition of foams with protective coating.展开更多
The effects of Ag,Co,and Ge additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of Be-35Al(wt.%)alloys fabricated by investment casting were studied.The results reveal that the trace metals 1.5wt.%Ag,0.7wt.%Co,and 0...The effects of Ag,Co,and Ge additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of Be-35Al(wt.%)alloys fabricated by investment casting were studied.The results reveal that the trace metals 1.5wt.%Ag,0.7wt.%Co,and 0.8wt.%Ge additions do not change the nucleation temperature of Be phase.However,the nucleation temperature of the Al phase decreases from 642℃ to 630℃ by DSC due to the Ge addition.The strength of the alloys sharply increases due to the dissolution of the Ag and Ge solutes into the Al phase and the Co into the Be phase characterized by SEM and EDS.Obviously,the strength of Be-Al-Ag-Co-Ge alloy is improved by the solution strengthening.Furthermore,a few Ag_(3) Al particles contribute to the strength of the Al phase.Be-Fe-Al ternary intermetallic compounds which can effectively reduce the negative effect of an impurity element Fe on the mechanical properties of Be-Al alloys are also found by XRD and EDS.展开更多
To solve the problems in turbine blade investment casting die design process such as long design time,lacking of expert experience and low level of intelligence,knowledge-based engineering (KBE) was introduced in the ...To solve the problems in turbine blade investment casting die design process such as long design time,lacking of expert experience and low level of intelligence,knowledge-based engineering (KBE) was introduced in the turbine blade investment casting die design field. The key technologies of the intelligent design method were researched and a prototype system was developed. A hybrid reasoning model was prompted in which case-based reasoning (CBR) was applied to conceptual design and rule-based reasoning (RBR) was applied to parts design after research the design process and domain knowledge of casting die. In the conceptual design stage,a retrieval model which integrated nearest neighbor approach and knowledge-based retrieval approach was prompted to improve the retrieval efficiency. Meanwhile,RBR was used to modify the retrieval result. The practical application results indicate that this system can reuse the expert experience efficiently and heighten the die design efficiency and quality.展开更多
In order to improve the properties of silica sol shell for investment casting process, various contents of cattail fibers were added into the slurry to prepare a fiber-reinforced shell in the present study. The bendin...In order to improve the properties of silica sol shell for investment casting process, various contents of cattail fibers were added into the slurry to prepare a fiber-reinforced shell in the present study. The bending strength of fiber-reinforced shell was investigated and the fracture surfaces of shell specimens were observed using SEM. It is found that the bending strength increases with the increase of fiber content, and the bending strength of a green shell with 1.0 wt.% fiber addition increases by 44% compared to the fiber-free shell. The failure of specimens of the fiber-reinforced green shell results from fiber rupture and debonding between the interface of fibers and adhesive under the bending load. The micro-crack propagation in the matrix is inhibited by the micro-holes for ablation of f ibers in specimens of the f iber-reinforced shell during the stage of being fired. As a result, the bending strength of specimens of the fired shell had no significant drop. Particularly, the bending strength of specimens of the fired shell reinforced with 0.6wt.% fiber reached the maximum value of 4.6 MPa.展开更多
The forming process and mechanism of the reaction of Ti-6Al-4V investment casting made by Zr（CH3COO）2-Y2O3 shell in vacuum casting was studied.Statistic was manipulated to study the distributions and types of the re...The forming process and mechanism of the reaction of Ti-6Al-4V investment casting made by Zr（CH3COO）2-Y2O3 shell in vacuum casting was studied.Statistic was manipulated to study the distributions and types of the reaction layers. The morphology and composition of the reaction layers were tested using field emission scanning electron microscopy（FESEM） combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy（EDS）. Phase of the reaction layers was characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）.Composition of the shell reaction zone was measured by X-ray fluorescence（XRF） method. The results suggest the reaction contains oxidation and element evaporation, and the melt reacts little with the shell but mainly with the remnant gas. The reaction layers contain three types due to different forming stages： the titanium oxidation film, the concretion film and the shell reaction zone. The interfacial temperature and pressure affect the reaction mechanism and degree, leading to three types of concretion films that differ in thickness, content and color.展开更多
文摘In this work,the influences of surface layer slurry at different temperatures(10℃,14℃,18℃,22℃)on wax patterns deformation,shrinkage,slurry coating characteristics,and the surface quality of the casting were investigated by using a single factor variable method.The surface morphologies of the shell molds produced by different temperatures of the surface(first)layer slurries were observed via electron microscopy.Furthermore,the microscopic composition of these shell molds was obtained by EDS,and the osmotic effect of the slurry on the wax patterns at different temperatures was also assessed by the PZ-200 Contact Angle detector.The forming reasons for the surface cracks and holes of thick and large ZTC4 titanium alloy by investment casting were analyzed.The experimental results show that the surface of the shell molds prepared by the surface layer slurry with a low temperature exhibits noticeable damage,which is mainly due to the poor coating performance and the serious expansion and contraction of wax pattern at low temperatures.The second layer shell material(SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3))immerses into the crack area of the surface layer,contacts and reacts with the molten titanium to form surface cracks and holes in the castings.With the increase of the temperature of surface layer slurry,the damage to the shell surface tends to weaken,and the composition of the shell molds'surface becomes more uniform with less impurities.The results show that the surface layer slurry at 22℃is evenly coated on the surface of the wax patterns with appropriate thickness,and there is no surface shell mold rupture caused by sliding slurry after sand leaching.The surface layer slurry temperature is consistent with the wax pattern temperature and the workshop temperature,so there is no damage of the surface layer shell caused by expansion and contraction.Therefore,the shell mold prepared by the surface layer slurry at this temperature has good integrity,isolating the contact between the low inert shell material and the titanium liquid effectively,and the ZTC4 titanium alloy cylinder casting prepared by this shell mold is smooth,without cracks and holes.
基金financed by National Funds through the Portuguese funding agency,FCT–Funda??o para a Ciência e a Tecnologia,within the strategic projects UIDB/04436/2020,UIDB/00481/2020 and LA/P/0063/2020(DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0063/2020)。
文摘This paper discusses an experimental investigation into the fluidity of AZ91D-1 wt.%Ca O magnesium melt via induction for thin-section investment casting.Plaster molds with thin spiral cavities(0.5 to 1.5 mm square sections)were designed and manufactured to assess the impact of casting conditions on filling length,as magnesium alloys cause severe melting and melt-mold exothermic reactions,making investment casting challenging.Combinations of traditional Mg-mold reaction mitigation techniques,such as applying a protective mold coating(Yttria)and vacuum,were examined to determine their role in the filling process.The results suggest that when induction is employed to melt reactive alloys,these methods are not always beneficial,as initially thought.Particularly at higher melt temperatures,the combination of Yttria-coated molds with low-pressure vacuum induction significantly reduce fluidity:vacuum induced melt levitation which promotes oxidation with the residual atmosphere;and Yttria-coating cracking due to thermal stress during the mold fabrication slows filling and promotes significant melt-mold reaction.This study shows that best results to investment cast thin-sections are obtained by avoiding both vacuum and protective coatings,providing a viable route for the precision manufacturing of stent biomedical devices.
基金Project (2008ZE53042) supported by National Aerospace Science Foundation of China
文摘In order to conform to dimensional tolerances, an efficient numerical method, displacement iterative compensation method, based on finite element methodology （FEM） was presented for the wax pattern die profile design of turbine blades. Casting shrinkages at different positions of the blade which was considered nonlinear thermo-mechanical casting deformations were calculated. Based on the displacement iterative compensation method proposed, the optimized wax pattern die profile can be established. For a A356 alloy blade, substantial reduction in dimensional and shape tolerances was achieved with the developed die shape optimization system. Numerical simulation result obtained by the proposed method shows a good agreement with the result measured experimentally. After four times iterations, compared with the CAD model of turbine blade, the total form error decreases to 0.001 978 mm from the orevious 0.515 815 mm.
基金financially supported by the National Science&Technology Key Projects of Numerical Control(2012ZX04012-011)National High-tech R&D Program(863 program)(2013031003)
文摘With the advent of Industry 4.0, more and more investment casting enterprises are implementing production manufacturing systems, especially in the last two years. This paper summarizes three new common requirements of the digital management aspect in precision casting enterprises, and puts forward three corresponding techniques. They are: the production process tracking card technology based on the main-sub card mode; the workshop site production process processing technology based on the barcode; and the equipment data integration technology. Then, this paper discusses in detail the principle, application and effect of these technologies; to provide the reference for enterprises to move towards digital casting and intelligent casting.
基金supported by National Key Technologies R&D Program under Grant No. 2006BAF04B02
文摘Turbine blade is one of the critical components of aircraft engine.The performance of the engine depends on the shape and dimensions of components,but superalloy blade material cannot be easily machined.Although investment casting is an ideal process for such net-shape components,it requires an accurate determination of the casting-die profile.In this paper,a reversing design methodology for investment casting die using ProCAST is proposed.By combining the methods of simplifying grid files and quick sorting,the efficiency of sorting and matching can be largely improved.Further,the mould/die cavity anti-deformation system can be easily built.With ProCAST,the optimized die profile for investment casting can be established.
基金financially supported by the Liaoning Natural Science Foundation ( Grant No.20170540888)the Liaoning Science and Technology Project (Grant No.2017221006)
文摘Casting technology of thin-wall TiAl alloy turbochargers was studied by investment casting and numerical simulation.Misruns and gas holes were the main defects observed in preliminary work due to the poor fluidity of alloy,and to gas entrapment.In order to eliminate these defects,cast parameters,such as centrifugal rotation rate and mould preheating temperature,were optimized by numerical simulation,meanwhile,the structure of the shell mould was optimized to improve the filling capacity of TiAl alloy.Pouring experiments were carried out by vacuum induction melting furnace equipped with a water-cooled copper crucible based on the above optimization.The quality of the TiAl alloy casting was analyzed by fluorescent penetrant inspection and X-ray detection.The results show that a centrifugal rotation rate of 200 rpm,mould preheating temperature of 600°C,shell preparation through organic fiber addition can dramatically improve the mould filling capacity,and integrated turbochargers were finally prepared.
文摘Bridgman directional solidification of investment castings is a key technology for the production of reliable and highly efficient gas turbine blades. In this paper, a mathematical model for three-dimensional （3D） simulation of solidification process of single crystal investment castings was developed based on basic heat transfer equations. Complex heat radiation among the multiple blade castings and the furnace wall was considered in the model. Temperature distribution and temperature gradient in superalloy investment castings of single blade and multiple ones were investigated, respectively. The calculated cooling curves were compared with the experimental results and agreed well with the latter. It is indicated that the unsymmetrical temperature distribution and curved liquid-solid interface caused by the circle distribution of multiple turbine blades are probably main reasons why the stray grain and other casting defects occur in the turbine blade.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under grant No. 51001040the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education within project No. 200802130014+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant No. HIT NSRIF.2010116)the Development program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Harbin Institute of Technology (HITQNJS 2009022)
文摘Investment casting has been widely recognized as the best option in producing TiAl components with key benefits of accuracy,versatility and integrity.The collapsibility of ceramic moulds for investment casting is critical in the manufacturing process of TiAl components due to TiAl's intrinsic brittleness at room temperature.The aim of the present research is to provide a method for production of TiAl components by investment casting in ZrO2 ceramic moulds with improved collapsibility.Slurries prepared with high polymer additions were utilized during the preparation of ceramic moulds.The stress/strain curves obtained from green and baked ceramic moulds demonstrate that the green strength was increased with the application of high polymer,while baked strength decreased,thus the collapsibility of ceramic moulds was improved.It is suggested that this result is related to the burn-out of high polymer which left a lot of cavities.The experimental findings were also verified by the investment casting of "I"-shaped TiAl components.
文摘In order to reduce the shrinkage porosity of nickel-based superalloy castings in the investment casting process,the effects of different gating systems on mold filling,solidification process,and prediction of shrinkage porosity of aero-engine turbine nozzle castings were investigated by simulation and experimental methods.Results show that the design of the vertical runner would cause greater turbulence of the melt in the riser during the mold filling process,and the outer runner is not necessary.With the decrease in number of runners,the hot spot moves down towards the casting,and the shrinkage and porosity defects are formed in the casting below the riser.In the original designs,a certain tendency of shrinkage and porosity defect is found in the vanes,inner rings,and outer rings of the castings by both simulation prediction and experiment.Finally,based on the processing optimization,the aero-engine turbine nozzle casting with no shrinkage and porosity defects is obtained.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.50875144)
文摘Using silica sol as a binder for titanium investment casting is very attractive due to its good stability and reasonable cost as compared with yttrium sol and zirconium sol. However, the mechanism of interface reaction in the related system remains unclear. In this investigation, the interface reaction between Y_2O_3-SiO_2(YSi) shell mold and titanium alloys was studied. A group of shell molds were prepared by using Y_2O_3 sand and silica sol with different contents of SiO_2. Ti-6Al-4V alloy was cast under vacuum by gravity casting through cold crucible induction melting(CCIM) method. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy(EDS) were employed to characterize the micromorphology and composition of the reaction area, respectively X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was used to confirm the valence state of relevant elements. White ligh interferometer(WLI) was used to obtain the surface topography of Y-Si shells. The results show that the thickness of reaction layers is below 3 μm when the SiO_2 content of silica sol is below 20 wt.%. Whereas, when the SiO_2 content increases to 25 wt.%, the thickness of the reaction layer increases sharply to about 15 μm. There is a good balance between chemical inertness and mechanical performance when the SiO_2 content is between 15 and 20 wt.%. Moreover, it was found that the distribution of SiO_2 and the roughness at the surface of the shell are the key factors that determine the level of reaction.
文摘The three dimensional solidification simulation of the single crystal investment castings at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7 mm祄in was performed with the finite element thermal analysis method. The calculated results were in accordance with the experimental ones. The results showed that with the increase of with-drawal rate the concave curvature of the liquidus isotherm was bigger and bigger and the temperature gradient of the castings decreased. No effects of withdrawal rate on the distribution of the temperature gradient of the starter and helical grain selector of the castings were observed at withdrawal rates of 2 mm祄in, 4.5 mm祄in and 7mm祄in. The relatively high temperature gradient between 500癈礳m and 1000癈礳m in the starter and helical grain selector was obtained at three withdrawal rates. The study indicates the three dimensional solidification simulation by finite element method is a powerful tool for understanding solidification and predicting defects in single crystal investment castings.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50875144)
文摘The pH value and viscosity of Y2O3-SiO2 （Y-Si） slurry made by Y2O3 powders and silica sol for the face coat of Ti-6Al-4V investment casting were measured. The thermal behavior of the shell made by the Y-Si face coat system was investigated by differential scanning calorimeter （DSC）, thermal gravimetric （TG） analysis combined with mass spectrometry （MS）, and the phase transformations were determined by X-ray diffraction （XRD）. Hot strength, residual strength, linear expansion coefficient, and wearing resistance performance of the shell were also tested. The microstructure and elements distri- bution of the interaction layer were studied by scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy-dispersive spectrometer （EDS）, respectively. The microhardness tester was applied for the microhardness. The results showed that the slurry was stable for at least 60 h. A very small amount of YZrO3 was formed below 1050℃ and Y2SiO5 was formed around 1450℃. The shell made by Y-Si system had good mechanical property which could reduce cracks during the procedure of dewaxing and inclusions during pouring. Some Al volatilized from the melt, permeated the surface of the face coat shell, and formed the black reaction layer, which blocked the permeation of O so that O penetration was limited to 5μm. The depth of Si penetration was about 60 μm. The hard layer was also around 60 μm.
文摘Using TiAl alloy to substitute superalloy is a hot topic in aeroengine industry because of its low density, high elevated temperature strength, and anti-oxidization ability. In this research, Ti-47.5AL-2Cr-2Nb-0.2B alloy was used as the test material. By applying a combination process of ceramic shell mold and core making, vacuum arc melting and centrifugal pouring, and heat isostatic pressing （HIP） and heat treatment （HT） etc., the TiAl vortex agitator casting for aeroengine was successfully made. This paper introduced key techniques in making the TiAl vortex agitator with investment casting process, provided some experimental results including mechanical properties and machinability, and explained some concerns that could affect applications of TiAl castings.
基金financially supported by National Science and Technology Major Project(2017ZX04014001-002)China-EU(European Union)Science&Technology Cooperation in Aviation+1 种基金Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation(2014-2020)of EU(No.690725)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51374137)
文摘Turbine blades,produced by the directional solidification(DS)process,often require high dimensional accuracy and excellent mechanical properties.A critical step in their production is the fabrication of wax patterns.However,the traditional manufacturing process has many disadvantages,such as long-term production,low material utilization rate,and the high cost of producing a complex-shaped wax pattern.Selective laser sintering(SLS)is one of the most extensively used additive manufacturing techniques that substantially shortens the production cycle.In this study,SLS was adopted to fabricate the wax pattern instead of the traditional manufacturing process.The orthogonal experiment method was carried out to investigate the effects of laser power,scanning speed,scanning space,and layer thickness on the dimensional precision and morphologies of the SLS parts.The SLS parts showed a minimum dimensional deviation when laser power,scanning speed,scanning space,and layer thickness were 10 W,3000 mm·s^(-1),0.18 mm,and 0.25 mm,respectively.In addition,the tensile strength and fracture morphologies were closely associated with the laser volumetric energy density(VED).The tensile strength reached a maximum when the VED was 0.0762 J·mm-3,with an evident brittle fracture morphology.The wax pattern manufactured in this way meets the accuracy and strength requirements for investment casting.This research offers a novel path for the production of wax patterns for complex-shaped turbine blades by SLS.
文摘The materials and physical properties of primary slurry are crucial to the surface quality of the finished castings,especially for high reactivity titanium alloys.The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different binders on the physical properties of primary slurry for titanium alloy investment casting.The zirconia-based slurries with different binders were evaluated by comparing the parameters:viscosity,bulk density,plate weight, suspensibility,gel velocity and strength.The results indicate that a higher viscosity of binder leads to a higher viscosity and suspensibility of slurry with the same powder/binder ratio.The retention rate and thickness of primary layer increase with an increase in the viscosity of the slurry,and a higher retention rate is associated with a thicker primary layer.The gel velocity of the slurry is correlated with the gel velocity of the binder.The green strength and the baked strength of the primary layer are determined by the properties of the binder after gel and by the production of the binder after fired,respectively.
文摘High-porosity,open-cell AZ91 magnesium alloy foams of two pore sizes were fabricated by means of investment casting technology,using PUR foam patterns.Foam casting variables such as pressure,mould temperature and metal pouring temperature were thoroughly investigated to define the most optimal casting conditions.The mechanical properties of the fabricated foams were measured in compression tests.A potential application for the foams considered is temporary bioresorbable bone implants,therefore the mechanical properties of the foams were compared with those of cancellous bone tissue.Foams with smaller pore size and lower porosity(20 PPI and 80%±87%)exhibited mechanical properties in the lower regions of the cancellous bone property range(Young’s modulus 36.5±77.5 MPa),while foams with higher pore size and porosity(10 PPI and~90%)were found to have insufficient compression strength(Young’s modulus 11.65±23.8),but thickening their walls and lowering their porosity below 90%yielded foams with Young’s modulus between 36.5 and 77.5 MPa.Foam fractures were also investigated to determine their collapse mechanism.A series of corrosion tests in stimulated body fluid was carried out to determine their applicability as a biomaterial.The Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation(PEO)process was used in a feasibility study to examine the microstructure and chemical composition of foams with protective coating.
基金supported by the State Key Laboratory of Special Rare Metal Materials (Contract No. SKL2018K004)China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co.,Ltd.,Science and Technology Planning Projects (2018KJJH02, 2020KJJH04)+1 种基金the Central Government Directs Special Projects for the Development of Local Science and Technology (2020)Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Industrial Innovation List Unwrapping Project (20200108)
文摘The effects of Ag,Co,and Ge additions on microstructure and mechanical properties of Be-35Al(wt.%)alloys fabricated by investment casting were studied.The results reveal that the trace metals 1.5wt.%Ag,0.7wt.%Co,and 0.8wt.%Ge additions do not change the nucleation temperature of Be phase.However,the nucleation temperature of the Al phase decreases from 642℃ to 630℃ by DSC due to the Ge addition.The strength of the alloys sharply increases due to the dissolution of the Ag and Ge solutes into the Al phase and the Co into the Be phase characterized by SEM and EDS.Obviously,the strength of Be-Al-Ag-Co-Ge alloy is improved by the solution strengthening.Furthermore,a few Ag_(3) Al particles contribute to the strength of the Al phase.Be-Fe-Al ternary intermetallic compounds which can effectively reduce the negative effect of an impurity element Fe on the mechanical properties of Be-Al alloys are also found by XRD and EDS.
文摘To solve the problems in turbine blade investment casting die design process such as long design time,lacking of expert experience and low level of intelligence,knowledge-based engineering (KBE) was introduced in the turbine blade investment casting die design field. The key technologies of the intelligent design method were researched and a prototype system was developed. A hybrid reasoning model was prompted in which case-based reasoning (CBR) was applied to conceptual design and rule-based reasoning (RBR) was applied to parts design after research the design process and domain knowledge of casting die. In the conceptual design stage,a retrieval model which integrated nearest neighbor approach and knowledge-based retrieval approach was prompted to improve the retrieval efficiency. Meanwhile,RBR was used to modify the retrieval result. The practical application results indicate that this system can reuse the expert experience efficiently and heighten the die design efficiency and quality.
基金financially supported by the Foundation for Chunhui Program of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China under contract No.Z2011-062
文摘In order to improve the properties of silica sol shell for investment casting process, various contents of cattail fibers were added into the slurry to prepare a fiber-reinforced shell in the present study. The bending strength of fiber-reinforced shell was investigated and the fracture surfaces of shell specimens were observed using SEM. It is found that the bending strength increases with the increase of fiber content, and the bending strength of a green shell with 1.0 wt.% fiber addition increases by 44% compared to the fiber-free shell. The failure of specimens of the fiber-reinforced green shell results from fiber rupture and debonding between the interface of fibers and adhesive under the bending load. The micro-crack propagation in the matrix is inhibited by the micro-holes for ablation of f ibers in specimens of the f iber-reinforced shell during the stage of being fired. As a result, the bending strength of specimens of the fired shell had no significant drop. Particularly, the bending strength of specimens of the fired shell reinforced with 0.6wt.% fiber reached the maximum value of 4.6 MPa.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.50875144)
文摘The forming process and mechanism of the reaction of Ti-6Al-4V investment casting made by Zr（CH3COO）2-Y2O3 shell in vacuum casting was studied.Statistic was manipulated to study the distributions and types of the reaction layers. The morphology and composition of the reaction layers were tested using field emission scanning electron microscopy（FESEM） combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy（EDS）. Phase of the reaction layers was characterized by X-ray diffraction（XRD）.Composition of the shell reaction zone was measured by X-ray fluorescence（XRF） method. The results suggest the reaction contains oxidation and element evaporation, and the melt reacts little with the shell but mainly with the remnant gas. The reaction layers contain three types due to different forming stages： the titanium oxidation film, the concretion film and the shell reaction zone. The interfacial temperature and pressure affect the reaction mechanism and degree, leading to three types of concretion films that differ in thickness, content and color.
