Thermal and flow modelling of ladling and injection in high pressure die casting process

Air entrapment and premature solidification in the shot sleeve of the cold chamber high pressure die casting process are problems affecting the casting quality. These issues are addressed from several viewpoints, including heat loss during metal ladling, turbulence generation and gas escape during pouring, wave formation and propagation during metal pouring and injection, and heat loss and solid creation in the shot sleeve during metal injection. Measurements and simulations have been conducted for a typical industrial case where the fill ratio of the shot sleeve is about 30%. It has been found that the settling time of the aluminium alloy in the shot sleeve has a profound influence on the air entrapment. The settling time also has a negative effect on the metal quality the solid formation (premature solidification or cold flakes) in the shot sleeve. Fast pouring and quick injection (no settling time) are recommended as a good approach to minimise the air entrapment and cold flakes in the shot sleeve in this particular case. (C) 2003 Maney Publishing.