Aluminum alloy components having improved properties. In one form, the cast alloy component may include about 0.6 to about 14.5 wt % silicon, 0 to about 0.7 wt % iron, about 1.8 about 4.3 wt % copper, 0 to about 1.22 wt % manganese, about 0.2 to about 0.5 wt % magnesium, 0 to about 1.2 wt % zinc, 0 to about 3.25 wt % nickel, 0 to about 0.3 wt % chromium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % tin, about 0.0001 to about 0.4 wt % titanium, about 0.002 to about 0.07 wt % boron, about 0.001 to about 0.07 wt % zirconium, about 0.001 to about 0.14 wt % vanadium, 0 to about 0.67 wt % lanthanum, and the balance predominantly aluminum plus any remainders. Further, the weight ratio of Mn/Fe is between about 0.5 and about 3.5. Methods of making cast aluminum parts are also described.

Aluminum alloy components having improved properties. In one form, the cast alloy component may include about 0.6 to about 14.5 wt % silicon, 0 to about 0.7 wt % iron, about 1.8 about 4.3 wt % copper, 0 to about 1.22 wt % manganese, about 0.2 to about 0.5 wt % magnesium, 0 to about 1.2 wt % zinc, 0 to about 3.25 wt % nickel, 0 to about 0.3 wt % chromium, 0 to about 0.5 wt % tin, about 0.0001 to about 0.4 wt % titanium, about 0.002 to about 0.07 wt % boron, about 0.001 to about 0.07 wt % zirconium, about 0.001 to about 0.14 wt % vanadium, 0 to about 0.67 wt % lanthanum, and the balance predominantly aluminum plus any remainders. Further, the weight ratio of Mn/Fe is between about 0.5 and about 3.5. Methods of making cast aluminum parts are also described.

The subject of the invention is a process for the production of at least partly thin-walled and aluminium castings with sand moulding technology by gravity casting, which allows producing casts with 100 times or favourably 200-400 times larger overall dimensions in case of 1-3 mm wall thickness. The main idea of the process is that sand mould containing mould cavity is provided, melt of aluminium content is produced, the melt is introduced into the mould cavity at several points through a gating system of narrowing cross section. A further subject of the invention is a sand mould fitted with a gating system to produce at least partly thin-walled castings with sand moulding technology, by gravity casting. The wall thickness of thin-walled segments is 1-3 mm and the largest dimension is more than a 100 but favourably at least 200-400 multiple of the wall thickness. The main idea behind the sand mould with a gating system is that it contains a mould cavity allowing the production of at least partly thin-walled castings, and is equipped with a gating system, which is composed of at least two sprues and one ingate to each having a porthole into the mould cavity and in liquid contact with the sprues.

The subject of the invention is a process for the production of at least partly thin-walled and aluminium castings with sand moulding technology by gravity casting, which allows producing casts with 100 times or favourably 200-400 times larger overall dimensions in case of 1-3 mm wall thickness. The main idea of the process is that sand mould containing mould cavity is provided, melt of aluminium content is produced, the melt is introduced into the mould cavity at several points through a gating system of narrowing cross section. A further subject of the invention is a sand mould fitted with a gating system to produce at least partly thin-walled castings with sand moulding technology, by gravity casting. The wall thickness of thin-walled segments is 1-3 mm and the largest dimension is more than a 100 but favourably at least 200-400 multiple of the wall thickness. The main idea behind the sand mould with a gating system is that it contains a mould cavity allowing the production of at least partly thin-walled castings, and is equipped with a gating system, which is composed of at least two sprues and one ingate to each having a porthole into the mould cavity and in liquid contact with the sprues.

A method for fabricating a cast component with a cooling channel is provided. The method includes forming a shell mold over a pattern-ceramic matrix composite (CMC) elongated core arrangement to define a cavity in the shell mold. The pattern-CMC elongated core arrangement includes a pattern-forming material with a CMC elongated core disposed therein. The pattern-forming material in the cavity is replaced with metal via a casting process to form the cast component with the CMC elongated core disposed therein defining the cooling channel. The CMC elongated core is removed from the cast component to open the cooling channel for fluid communication.

A method for fabricating a cast component with a cooling channel is provided. The method includes forming a shell mold over a pattern-ceramic matrix composite (CMC) elongated core arrangement to define a cavity in the shell mold. The pattern-CMC elongated core arrangement includes a pattern-forming material with a CMC elongated core disposed therein. The pattern-forming material in the cavity is replaced with metal via a casting process to form the cast component with the CMC elongated core disposed therein defining the cooling channel. The CMC elongated core is removed from the cast component to open the cooling channel for fluid communication.

A process for the manufacture of metal products includes the steps of providing a mold including a first portion made of an aggregate and a binder, delivering a molten metal into the mold, removing a first portion of the mold with a fluid and solidifying at least one targeted portion of the molten metal which will form the metal product with the fluid. A flow of fluid to the mold is stopped for a period of time. Subsequently, a remaining portion of the molten metal is solidified to form the metal product. The at least one targeted portion of the metal product has better mechanical properties than does a remaining portion of the metal product. A unitary, one-piece aluminum alloy component with differing mechanical properties is also disclosed.

A process for the manufacture of metal products includes the steps of providing a mold including a first portion made of an aggregate and a binder, delivering a molten metal into the mold, removing a first portion of the mold with a fluid and solidifying at least one targeted portion of the molten metal which will form the metal product with the fluid. A flow of fluid to the mold is stopped for a period of time. Subsequently, a remaining portion of the molten metal is solidified to form the metal product. The at least one targeted portion of the metal product has better mechanical properties than does a remaining portion of the metal product. A unitary, one-piece aluminum alloy component with differing mechanical properties is also disclosed.

A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.

A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.