IK4-AZTERLAN works on developing high-performance moulding technologies for steel casting components
A research team from IK4-AZTERLAN has been working alongside a group of companies on a significant innovative project designed to optimize the manufacturing of high-performance steel casting components.
The need to comply with requirements established by international regulations has seen the emergence of new scenarios related to critical applications, as well a new demand for such materials from challenging areas of industry, such as the gas, oil, civil engineering and energy sectors.
This development has resulted in improved performance, which in turn has advantages in terms of productivity and reducing the cost of the manufacturing process. A series of metallurgical improvements have also become apparent during the course of the project:
· Lower thermal inertia in the mould, which thereby reduces the local thermal load and results in fewer defects (cracks, segregations, etc.)
· Metallic structures are more beneficial and grain growth phenomena are minimised.
· Fewer returns and increased rotation of materials (metal loads with a higher proportion of “new ingot materials”, which leads to an improvement in metallurgical quality).
· Reduced material loss due to the impossibility of reusing the returns (feeder contamination).
· In most cases, a risering system with reduced section removes the need for any standardization/refining treatment to be applied before elimination in order to prevent cracks appearing in the casting finish.
The results of the project were presented at the 71st World Foundry Congress which was recently held in the city of Bilbao. The paper was awarded second prize in the Best Paper category.