Porosity Reduction in Lost Foam Casting of Cylinder Heads by an Advanced Metal Stirring Process

20100197
Journal: Transactions of the American Foundry Society, Vol. 118, Paper No. 10-155, P 489-491, 2010
Author: Muginstein, G.R.; Kiperwasser, E.; Rosen, R.; Yardeni, D.

The Plasma Treatment Casting (PTC) process applies moving plasma arc to stir molten metals and alloys during the solidification stage in conductive and nonconductive dies. The intensive stirring has several major benefits: finer microstructure, better chemical homogeneity and improved feeding in both macro and micro scales, thus resulting in reduction of porosity size and porosity ratio. In recent years, the need for lighter and geometrically complicated cylinder head designs drove designers and producers to rediscover the advantages of lost foam casting. Lost foam could become a preferred casting method of the future if the major problem of porosity level could be corrected. The PTC technology can be the solution.