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Article: Bulking up aluminum alloys.
- Article from:
- Modern Casting
- Article date:
- May 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 American Foundry Society, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Aluminum has the reputation of being a "softie."
But like all reputations, this one is not entirely true.
Because of their difference in material properties, most design engineers believe that aluminum castings are weaker then steel or iron. However, while several aluminum alloys exist that have comparable mechanical properties at a lighter weight, they also have the reputation of being difficult to cast due to an increased tendency for hot cracking.
One example, 206 aluminum alloy, has mechanical properties approaching some grades of ductile iron. With excellent high temperature tensile and low cycle fatigue strength, this alloy could be used ...