Quality Control of Liquid Aluminium Alloy Using Thermal Imaging Camera

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a study on the use of infrared thermography to assess the quality of liquid metal, a basic semi-finished product used in foundry production. EN AC-46000 alloy with the designation AlSi9Cu3(Fe) was used for the study. The crystallization process of the alloy was investigated using the TDA method with a Crystaldigraph device and Optris PI thermal imaging camera. The research describes how to use a thermal imaging camera to assess the quality of aluminium alloys. These alloys, due to their propensity in the liquid state to oxidise and absorb hydrogen, a refining procedure in the melting process. The effects of alloy refining are evaluated during technological tests of hydrogen solubility, density and casting shrinkage. The results presented in this paper showed that there is a statistical correlation between the density of the metal and the temperature values from the thermogram of the sample, obtained during its solidification. The existing correlation makes it possible to develop a thermographic inspection algorithm that allows a fast and non-contact assessment of aluminium alloy quality.