Prediction of mechanical property distribution in low-pressure die-casting Al-10Si-0.3Mg alloy

The non-uniform distribution of mechanical properties in low-pressure die casting (LPDC) parts complicates property evaluation and application. In this study, the LPDC Al-10Si-0.3Mg alloy subframe was investigated. Tensile results showed significant non-uniformity in elongation and tensile strength across regions, while yield strength exhibited minimal variation. Computerized tomography (CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were combined to analyse the cause of mechanical properties variations. Fracture surface analysis and quantitative statistics revealed that shrinkage porosities and oxide inclusions determined the fracture location of tensile specimens. A larger area fraction of shrinkage porosities and oxide inclusions resulted in lower elongation. A model was subsequently proposed to predict elongation and tensile strength of the LPDC part. This model was combined with the Pro-CAST simulation results to predict distributions of elongation and tensile strength in LPDC castings. A comparison with experimental data showed good agreement between the predicted and observed results.