Effect of Squeeze Casting Parameters on the Wear Properties of A390 Aluminum Alloy

In this paper, the effects of squeeze casting parameters on the wear behavior of A390 aluminum alloy were investigated. For this purpose, the experiment was designed according to L9 Taguchi array that the squeeze pressure (60, 90 and 120 MPa), the superheats of liquid metal (50, 100 and 150 °C) and the die preheating temperature (200, 250 and 300 °C) were selected as the independent variables at three levels. On the contrary, the microstructure characteristics, the weight loss of specimen after wear test and friction coefficient were examined as dependent variables. The microstructural characterizations were also performed using optical microscopy equipped with image analyzer and SEM equipped with EDS. The squeeze casting was performed with a 20-ton hydraulic press in a cylindrical shape. According to the results, the increase in squeezing pressure from 60 to 120 MPa within the tested range leads to a decrease in primary silicon area by 48% and a decrease in silicon eutectic by 44.4%; however, applied pressure did not have any significant effects on morphology of phases. The wear tests were carried out using a computer-controlled pin on disk wear test machine in ambient temperature.