Propiedades mecnicas

Aluminium alloy A201 provides casting designers with a substitute for the more expensive forgings
and fabrications of aluminium and steel. Castings Technology International is involved with several
projects and, through our experience with this alloy, have gained an appreciation for the casting
techniques and process control required to successfully cast A201.
Careful metallurgical control is important with A201. Silicon and iron are undesirable elements and
great care must be taken with the melting practice to avoid contamination. The 0.25% magnesium
supplements the 4.5% copper in strengthening the alloy, but excess can result in incipient melting
during the solution heat treatment. Titanium added in the form of Al-5% Ti-1%B alloy provides the
nucleation sites during solidification to achieve fine dendritic arm spacing. Manganese restricts
grain growth during the solution heat treatment.
The minimum properties for the A201 alloy covered by the American Aerospace Material
Specification AMS 4229 are as follows:
0.2% Proof Stress
MPa
Tensile Strength
MPa
Elongation
%
Separately cast test specimen 345 414 3
Designated casting areas 345 414 3
Non-designated casting areas 331 386 1.5
The range of separately cast test bar properties based on statistical analysis is given below:
0.2% Proof Stress
MPa
Tensile Strength
MPa
Elongation
%
385-435 420-475 3-8
Hipping enhances the properties even further as shown below:
0.2% Proof Stress
MPa
Tensile Strength
MPa
Elongation
%
410-440 450-480 5-10
Cti have established casting techniques necessary to avoid hot tearing problems associated with
aluminium alloys containing 4.5% copper.
Hot tearing is controlled by careful casting design incorporating generous radii and no abrupt
section changes: suitable foundry techniques to provide a temperature gradient which ensures a
continuous source of liquid feed metal for the solidifying casting.
In conclusion, A201 can now be used on a wider scale and it is strongly recommended that design
engineers communicate with Ctis casting engineers at the earliest stages of design.