Investigation and characterisation of inclusions in aluminium cast alloys for the automotive industry

'Lightweight materials' are widely used in the automotive industry. Not only the demand for fuel efficiency, but also regulations mandating lower emission values lead automotive manufacturers to increase their use of lightweight materials. Considering the low density, better mechanical properties, easier machinability, corrosion resistance and recyclability, Al-Si based alloys are widely used in automotive components such as wheels. Beside these advantages, disadvantages such as impurities, porosity and grain size play a vital role in terms of mechanical properties and surface quality of aluminium alloys. In this study, inclusions were investigated. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy) analysis and elemental mapping methods are preferred in the investigation. All critical areas on the samples were defined and analysed by SEM & EDS methods. © 2019 Institute of Cast Metals Engineers. All rights reserved.