Experimental Research on Increasing the Durability of Cast ATCSi 5 Cu 1 Alloys for Sea Ships Through Heat Treatment

This paper presents an experimental research study on the utilization of complex heat treating on aluminum alloys in order to increase their durability. The practical usage of the studied aluminum alloys (more specifically, silumin type alloys) is envisaged to be in marine industry, where fatigue is very important, especially in corrosive medium. The applied complex heat treating is of tremendous importance and the results can be very good. Durability means a combination of different characteristics that determine the time period in which a cast part can be used in safe conditions. For a seagoing ship condition, the durability of ATCSi 5 Cu 1 cast parts depends especially on mechanical resistance and corrosive resistance in marine water. The present work investigates the possibilities offered by different heattreating techniques in order to increase the overall durability of the seagoing ship parts by increasing the mechanical resistance and reducing the corrosion in sea water. Thus, we conceived an original methodology of experimental research comprising of an optimum combination of adequate heat treating, static and dynamic tests as well as corrosion tests under pressure in conditions similar to sea water.