What Does
Aluminum Casting Mean?
Aluminum casting is a type of metalworking process that involves pouring liquid metal into a mold or form. Aluminum casting is a variation of this that uses only aluminum and aluminum alloys as the liquid metal that is poured into the mold. Aluminum castings are used to make complex and detailed parts very efficiently.
Corrosionpedia Explains Aluminum Casting
Aluminum is heated to its liquid form in the aluminum casting process and then poured into a mold. The mold must be made with precision because it's quality will have a direct impact on the shape and surface finish of the finished aluminum casting.
The mold can be made from many different materials, including tool steel, because aluminum has a lower melting point than steel. Another material that a mold can be made out of for aluminum casting is sand. For this, the sand is pressed to take the form of the desired finished part. Once the sand is formed, the liquid aluminum is poured into it and allowed to cool.
Aluminum castings have properties similar to other aluminum components. Once the casting process is complete the aluminum castings quickly form an exterior layer of aluminum oxide that helps protect against corrosion.