Influence of Aluminium on melt flow behaviour of ZA alloys processed through Centrifugal Casting Process

Abstract

ZA alloys are known as bearing materials due to its excellent tribological properties. Many researchers have worked on evaluating mechanical, wear, bearing, damping properties of ZA alloys processed through various casting techniques. From previous literature it is known that increase in the aluminium content increases mechanical properties of ZA alloys and also increases fluidity of the melt in continuous casting process, In the present work an attempt is made to study the effect on fluidity by increasing aluminum content in zinc alloys processed through centrifugal casting at rotational speed of 600rpm. ZA 8, ZA 12 and ZA 27 alloys were taken for the study to understand the effect of aluminum in ZA alloys during centrifugal casting process. Uniform cast tube was formed for ZA 8 alloy and non-uniform cast tubes were formed for other two alloys due to the increase in aluminum content which probably restricts fluid motion. The detailed discussion on fluid flow, microstructure and hardness of the cast tube were discussed finally.