High-Strength Aluminium Alloys and Their Use in Foundry Industry of Nickel Superalloys

Of great importance in the selection of materials for cast structures is keeping a proper balance between the mechanical and plastic properties, while preserving the relevant casting properties. This study has been devoted to an analysis of the choice and application of high-strength aluminium-based alloys maintaining sufficient level of casting properties. The high level of tensile strength ( R m > 500 MPa) matched with satisfactory elongation ( A > 3%) is important because materials of this type are used for cast parts operating in the aerospace, automotive, and military industries. These beneficial relationships between the high tensile strength and toughness are relatively easy to obtain in the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys subjected to plastic forming and proper heat treatment. In gravity cast products, on the other hand, whether poured into sand moulds or metal moulds (dies), obtaining this favourable combination of properties poses a number of research problems (mostly resulting from the alloy chemical composition) as well as technical and technological difficulties.