Investigation of the effect of niobium alloy addition in casting aluminum allaoys

Aluminum and its alloys are very important engineering materials due to their properties such as corrosion resistance, casting strength, high electrical and thermal conductivity and ductility. For this reason, its use is quite common in the defense industry, industrial production and machinery industry. While its use is increasing, especially in the automotive industry and many sectors requiring high technology, quality requirements are also increasing. Depending on the increase in quality expectations from aluminum casting alloys, castings are made with the addition of different alloying elements. In this context, in this thesis study, the effect of 0,03 %, 0,06 % and 0.1 % Niobium (Nb) addition on the casting properties of A356 aluminum casting alloy was investigated with experimental techniques. Within the scope of examining the casting properties, the effect of Nb addition on flowability, feedability, microstructural properties and mechanical properties was evaluated. The permanent molding method was used in the casting experiments. First, the A356 aluminum casting alloy without additions was cast. Then, with the addition of the Nb element, which is AlNbB3,5/0,5 Nb was added to the A356 aluminum casting alloy in varying amounts such as 0,03 %, 0,06 % and 0,1 %, and castings were made. Liquid metal Archimedes test samples were taken for the solidification of liquid metal at 720°C under vacuum. As for colic moulds, castings were made in K-mold, duck foot, flow, draw rod, spiral and step permanent molds respectively. As a result, after the casting studies were applied, it was observed that the pores decreased in the Archimedes sample test, the strength of the sample increased in the tensile test, the inclusions decreased in the K-mold test sample, the fluidity gradually decreased, the amount of shrinkage decreased in the duck foot casting, and the inclusions and pores decreased in the internal structure examination of the step test sample.