Application of Aluminum Alloy - Zirconium in Automotive Parts Manufacturing 2017-36-0235

The current Brazilian technological scenario undergoes major transformations, the automobile industry is part of this panorama, where new technologies are presented and the other improved, in this segment we have non-ferrous aluminum alloys, which with the addition of alloys transform into alloys of high performance. Elements of aluminum alloys undergo modifications in their mechanical properties with variation of temperatures, deformation, chemical composition among others. The present work aims at comparing the thermomechanical properties of the experimental results and computational simulations of Al-0.05% Cu- [0.35-0.45] % Fe-0.22% Zr alloy for application in the automotive industry. The alloy was obtained from Al-EC modified by iron insertions in the range of [0.35 - 0.45] % and 0.22% Zr. Subsequently, after the solidification of the alloy in a horizontal unidirectional mold, the ingots were transformed into profiles of [2.7; 3.0; 3.8 and 4.0] mm and subjected to mechanical tensile tests with and without heat treatment. Secondly, a computational simulation based on the finite element method through ANSYS software was performed. In it the thermomechanical properties, obtained in the real test, were inserted in the simulation, in order to serve as facings. Thus it was possible to compare thermomechanical properties, obtained through simulation, with the experimental results of the alloy studied. The results of these analyzes allow to evaluate that the Al-0.05% Cu- [0.35-0.45]% Fe-0.22% Zr alloy has the potential to be used in automotive components that work in the temperature range of [ 0 to 280] ° C without great loss of mechanical properties, that is to say in components used in the surroundings of the engine.