Source: La Metallurgia Italiana –
Primary aluminum-silicon-magnesium alloys are by far the most widely used type in the manufacturing of safety parts for the automotive industry, such as suspension components and wheels, due to their excellent castability and good mechanical properties which can be further improved by heat treatment: solution, followed by water quenching and artificial aging T6 or T7. The recent structural castings, being extremely thin walled (of the order of 2.5 mm) and of rather great dimensions usually require the
use of High Pressure Die Casting. These parts must be defect free and heat treatable to attain the requested properties, ductility and weldability being the most difficult to achieve. Vacuum must be applied as well as a combination of precautions relative to the die design, die lubrication, melt quality and shot profile have to be taken.
