Chemical Analysis of the Material and Mold Manufacturing for Casting

   Over the past week, the team has advanced considerably in terms of research and planning, although it has encountered some unforeseen events that have temporarily interfered the progress.

   After obtaining the aluminum, the team requested a chemical analysis in the laboratory of optical microscopy to better know about the collected material, as it can be observed in the figures below, the result of the analysis demonstrates a high concentration of aluminum in the samples, around 90.8% and 98.8%.

Figure 1 - Chemical analysis of test body A2

Source: Own

Figure 2 - Chemical analysis of test body A4

Source: Own

   Then the team made the mold of green sand for the casting of the specimens. First, the sand was obtained and right after, the clay, which acted as a binder by the water, and then began the mixing process to obtain the green sand. Once this was done, a billet was placed to form the mold cavity so  the final aluminum product was machined into the dimensions of the specimen mentioned in the previous post. However, the first mold didn't t withstand and the team went through the same production process twice more to obtain the expected result, as can be seen in the following figures:

Figure 3 – Sand without additives

Source: Own.

Figure 4 - Clay and water

Source: Own

Figure 5 - Mixing process

Source: Own

Figure 6 - Positioning of dowel

Source: Own

Figure 7 - Erosion of the first mold

Source: Own

   After some discussions, the team decided to use a specimens as a model for the foundry, so it was able to obtain a well compacted mold. Once the material has been melted, the furnace available for the process has been perforated in its internal compartment due to the receipt of high thermal energy for a considerable time. This event ended the week by extending the casting date to Monday 23/10.

Posted by: Davi Teodoro.