ABSTRACT
Techniques of examining casting quality as it relates to high-pressure die casting (HPDC) are evaluated. The roles of some simple parameters are considered in the as-cast and heat-treated conditions. Failure of HPDCs is influenced by a complex interaction of a variety of casting defects. Complex strain localization and failure occurs in HPDCs, which results in a proportionately large fraction of defects appearing on the fracture surface. The methodology developed is expanded to evaluate industrially produced components as a means to produce a universal quality metric. The effect of heat treatment on quality is also evaluated. Of the different analyses conducted, all may differentiate casting quality, but some complimentary techniques (e.g., Weibull statistics combined with flow curve derivations based on the Ludwik–Hollomon equation) are extremely useful.
