Research Information System
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING, vol.194, no.117105, pp.1359-4311, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
In the gravity die casting process, cooling directly affects the unit cost and microstructure quality of casting
products. In the conventional manufacturing methods, cooling channels in gravity casting molds are usually
produced linearly in circular profiles. When cooling is not conformal, molding defects such as hot spots and
distortions form in the products. This study investigated the effects of cooling channels on the casting steps and
final properties of the products in standard and conformal cooling gravity die casting molds. Numerical analysis
results were compared with the experimental data and then were verified. The pressure losses in cooling
channels, the times for molds to reach the required temperature and the cycle times were all measured. The
pressure losses in standard and conformal cooling channels were measured at 5250 Pa and 12100 Pa, respectively.
In addition, a more homogeneous mold surface temperature distribution was achieved in the conformal
cooling mold, as well as a 28% shorter cycle time. The average particle size of the parts cast with conformal
molds was 13.5% smaller than those cast with standard molds. Finally, the mechanical properties of the parts
cast with conformal cooling channel molds were found to be better than those cast with standard channel molds.