| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C514718/1 |
| Title: |
Enhanced Mechanical Properties in Al Castings by the application of Helium |
| Principal Investigator: |
Griffiths, Dr WD |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
IRC in Materials Processing |
| Organisation: |
University of Birmingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 January 2005 |
Ends: |
30 September 2008 |
Value (£): |
234,172
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Transport Systems and Vehicles |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Research into the mechanisms of heat transfer from the casting to the mould has shown that a significant thermal resistance is encountered due to a layer of air, trapped between the rough casting and mould surfaces. Although the layer of air in the casting-mould interface can only be a few tens of micrometres in thickness air has such a low thermal conductivity that a significant insulating effect occurs. In porous mould materials such as are used in the sand casting process heat transfer through the gas in the intergranular voids is also a poor way to transfer heat. Replacing the air in the casting process with Helium, which has a thermal conductivity 5 times that of air, will enhance the heat transfer from the casting to the mould, and through the mould. The proposed research aims to determine the increase in cooling rates thus obtained, the refinement in microstructure that results, and the associated improvement in mechanical properties and productivity. The enhancement of mechanical properties in the gravity die, sand and investment casting processes will be examined.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bham.ac.uk |