Process and apparatus for manufacturing low-gas and pore-free aluminum casting alloys

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing low-gas and pore-free aluminum casting alloys by vacuum degasification and densification of the melt. Contact between the aluminum melt and the atmospheric humidity of the alloying process, from refining to continuous casting of the cast bars, is kept extremely short, so that effective vacuum degasification, and a high cooling rate, can prevent the formation of gas pores. After the metal melt is alloyed in a smelting furnace, the melt is fed through a system of gutters directly to at least one vacuum furnace. Refining components are added in the vacuum furnace and heating is conducted to provide the pouring temperature required for continuous casting. The vacuum in the vacuum furnace is maintained to degasify the melt and increase the density thereof, monitored by periodic measurements of the metal density until a stable maximum density is obtained, and the metal melt is then fed through the gutter system directly to the continuous casting mold to produce low gas, substantially pore-free aluminum alloy castings.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.