Development of a Ceramic Foam Filter for Filtering Molten Aluminum Alloy in Casting Processes

Currently, liquid metal filtration in casting process is a familiar refining technology for casting process. This technique be able to exist removed the inclusions inside the melts and subsequently improves the mechanical properties of the product. Furthermore this will also improved the surface finish and tightness of cast product. This significantly reduced the rework cost. The present research was done to fabricate an improved ceramic foam filter for use in filtering aluminum base alloys. It was an objective of the present work to provide a ceramic foam filter characterized by cost of raw materials. Then experimental tests were carried out to the filters to measure permeability properties before pouring process. After pouring process, thermal shock properties, obtain from pouring liquid aluminum when filter was placed in the gating system to ensure that the filters could withstand temperatures of aluminum alloys. Then filter was cut into several sections to measure the macro and microstructure of the filter and ensure that impurity particles captured by a filter. Further experiments were also done to investigate the efficiency of produced ceramic foam filter on quality of cast products. The result obtained in this investigation, the mechanical properties for aluminum LM6 alloy sand casting increased when ceramic foam filter was inserted into the gating system. A produced filter by using new materials is economical to produce. Further more, the analysis data shows present innovation filter which can be made in any shape and size, has excellent thermal shock resistance, and acceptable permeability properties.