Development of the Partial Strengthening Method for Automobile Aluminum Alloy Castings by TIG Surface Remelting

A new partial strengthening method, TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) remelting process, for automobile aluminum alloy castings is described. The preferable operating variables to strengthen, and metallurgical-mechanical properties of remelted alloys formed under selected conditions have been investigated. As a result, the mechanical properties such as strength and toughness, and thermal crack resistance of the remelted alloys were improved markedly due to the effects of microstructure refining and cast defects decrement by remelting. So, the application studies for automobile parts to meet the characteristics of this process have been carried out.

Consequently, TIG remelting process has been practically used as an available strengthening method for the portion between valve ports of high performance diesel engine cylinder head.