Effects of Cooling Media on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Sand and Die Casting Aluminium Alloys

Die and sand castings are versatile processes capable of being used in mass production of alloys having properties unobtainable by other manufacturing method. In this research, efforts were made to study the effects of cooling media on Aluminium alloy cast. Aluminium scrap (Al – Mg – Si,) were charged into crucible furnace from which as-cast aluminium samples for the experimental work were obtained. The specimens were subjected to hardness test, tensile test and metallographic examination. The results show that samples obtained from air cooled dies had the best mechanical properties and those produce by sand casting had comparable hardness values but lower tensile properties. Other results show that the hardness of cast alloys can be varied by changing the cooling media.