Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Eccomelt, a subsidiary of House of Metals produces and markets an aluminum alloy from the recycling ofaluminum rims through a patented process of cleaning and fragmentation. This product, known asEccomelt356.2, has a composition very similar to that of A356.2 ingots and is often diluted by foundries withprimary aluminum to form A356.2. To increase its market share and find new market opportunities forEccomelt356.2, House of Metals wants to develop foundry practices to enhance the utilization of the product inmolten metal charges without affecting the mechanical properties of cast products made in whole or in partfrom Eccomelt356.2. The project goals is to study the effect of the following parameters: (1) Cleaning /degassing of Eccomelt356.2 containing melts (2) the amount of alloying/modifying elements ( Sr, TiB2) (3) theeffect of the solidification conditions (e.g. the casting process) (4) the effect of hot isostatic pressing (HIP)process, and (5) The response to T6 and T61 tempers and (6) the effect of using this material on productioncosts. Charges of Eccomelt will be prepared with different molten metal treatment processes and metal qualitywill be assessed by tensile test form sample poured from those melt, PodFa for inclusion contents andmetallographic evaluation.This research project will enable the industrial partner to gain a better understanding of the effect of castingconditions on the properties of parts cast from Eccomel356.2. With the data obtained in this project, House ofMetals will be able to guide its customers (foundries) towards an optimal use of its product in order to obtainthe best possible properties of the castings. This should give the Eccomelt365.2 alloy an additional competitiveadvantage in addition to its initial economic and environmental advantage as a recycled product. One studentfrom the Cégep de Trois Rivières will participate in the project.