Improving the Melting Operation for Higher Performing Aluminium Component
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Tekniska Högskolan i Jönköping AB - Materials and Manufacturing |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 200 000 |
| Project duration | November 2019 - October 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for Metallic material |
Purpose and goal
The purpose of IMPACT is to improve the performance of cast products. To get there, the melt handling process must be improved, which has been investigated in the project. The tools that measure melt quality do not give reliable results but create a false sense of security in production. A new tool has been invented that can show the total damage in the molten metal so that the right measures can be put in place to improve the melt quality. The project has delivered knowledge about the melt handling process that lowers costs and energy consumption without reducing the quality of the end product.
Expected results and effects
The results have shown that quality assurance of molten metal is challenging, and mechanical testing is the method that most reliably shows all damage in the material. Otherwise, several methods must be used simultaneously to verify the melt quality. A patent for a new measurement method has been invented. The purification process by rotary degassing for 46000 alloys has shown that the purification removes the hydrogen in the melt but does not improve the mechanical properties of the melt. By skipping steps in production, 75% of energy consumption can be reduced in the holding furnaces.
Planned approach and implementation
The project will increase knowledge in the field of melt handling and clarify the role of the influence of different stages in the overall process. In order to reach the goals, a literature study will be carried out to be implemented in the experiments in a lab environment to clarify which tools are reliable to measure the quality of the molten metal. Then tested in production. The goal is to be able to evaluate the melt quality in the production. There were a few challenges during projects as the pandemic made it difficult to carry out experiments at the companies, and the project manager quit.