The effects of copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn) on fluidity of A357 alloy.

• The effects of Cu or Zn on the fluidity of A357 alloy were investigated. • With increase of Cu or Zn content, the fluidity of A357 alloy decreased. • With increase of Cu or Zn, the solidification temperature range increased. • The coarse grain is not the main reason for the fluidity to deteriorate. Excellent fluidity is an essential condition for Al-Si-Mg alloy (like A357) to make large thin-walled and complex structure castings, but t here is no research about the effects of Cu or Zn on the fluidity of Al-Si-Mg alloys. Under sand casting conditions, the effects of Cu or Zn on the fluidity of A357 were investigated through spiral fluidity resin sand molds, DSC, polarizing microscope and SEM. The results showed that with increase of Cu or Zn content, the solidification temperature range (T) of A357 alloy increased, and the fluidity decreased. With Cu or Zn addition, the grain size of A357 alloy increased, but the coarse grain is not the main reason for the fluidity to deteriorate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]