EFFECT OF SOLIDIFICATION CONDITIONS ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DIRECTIONALLY SOLIDIFIED 356 ALUMINUM ALLOY.

Solidification conditions and mechanical properties were studied by stepwise regression analysis. The elongation of the as-cast alloy is affected by average cooling velocity in the solidification range and temperature gradient. 0. 2% proof stress is negatively affected by temperature gradient and moving velocity of the solid-liquid interface. Partial cooling velocity from the liquidus to the temperature at which 40% volume fraction of solid has solidified has an effect on ultimate tensile strength, Brinell hardness, maximum load, crack initiation and propagation energy, and total absorbed energy. T6 treated castings and partial cooling velocity have an effect on tensile and impact properties except maximum load.