Method and apparatus for simplified production of heat-treatable aluminum alloy castings

摘要

Method and apparatus for simplified heat-treatment to harden aluminum castings made from heat-treatable aluminum alloys, especially with a copper content of up to 5%, such as the 300-T6 series, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile motors: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are directly quenched before cooling below 400 DEG C. (and preferably immediately after demolding) without undergoing the conventional steps of natural cooling followed by a re-heating "solution" heat treatment (typically of at least 470 DEG C. for at least two hours, or for a shorter time at higher temperatures) which "solution" heat treatment requires excessive and expensive equipment, energy, and production time. This invention also has the unexpected beneficial effect of avoiding development of silicon spheroidization in the alloy matrix thereby resulting in improved machining properties.