AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
Braunau am Inn - Ranshofen | Website
Short Description
LKR offers a semi-industrial and experimental direct chill casting machine for vertical continuous casting of aluminium and magnesium alloys in open-top or hot-top layout with real time monitoring and data acquisition.
Contact Person
M.Eng. Andreas Betz
Research Services
• Production of customized formats and alloys, including special alloys
• Rolling slabs and extrusion billets
• Process technology for high-quality, near net shape semi-products for direct processing of the semi-finished products (e.g. forging)
• Infrastructure for extended casting tests including peripheral equipment
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The use of production related, but notably smaller plants compared to production facilities, allows the development of plant technology and the testing of new alloys under the same conditions as in later production, but in significantly more economical test quantities. In addition, production capacities are not blocked by R&D projects. The combination of these production related plants and scientific methods of materials research allows efficient development of process-optimized alloys and industry-related process developments.
Technical data:
• Manufacturer: HPI - High Performance Industries
• Furnace capacity:
• ~ 100 kg to 1600 kg aluminium
• ~ 150 kg magnesium
• Maximum cast length:
• Al: approx. 2,500 mm incl. head and base
• Mg: approx. 2,000 mm incl. head and base
• Single or multi-strand casting possible
• Round bar formats:
• Hot top: 152 mm to 203 mm (6 "to 12")
• Open top: 70-97-127-145-158-185-255-305-314 mm (2.7" to 12.3")
• Rectangular bar formats:
• Open top: 430 x 140 mm, 780 x 250 mm
• Casting speed 0 mm/s to 8 mm/s
Two cooling systems, max. 13 m³/min
LKR expertise:
• Process technology for casting parameters such as casting speed, cooling, lubrication, etc.
• Mould technology and surface properties
• Alloy design (effect of individual alloy elements on alloy properties)
• Adjustment of microstructure characteristics
• Adjustment of structure/heat treatment
• Melting technology and temperature control
• Melt quality (composition, purity)
• Melt treatment, grain refinement, modification
• Characterization (spectroscopy??, metallography, DSC, dilatometer)
• Numerical methods of alloy development and process technology: microstructure simulation (MathCalc), casting simulation: mould filling and solidification