FLUIDITY OF

MOLTEN METAL
Manufacturing Process 2
By Nicky Putra P. & Rafiq Yulian
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Definition of Fluidity
Conceptual Difference to Viscosity
Measurement of Fluidity
Fluidity Test of Liquid Metal in Vacuum Condition
Factors Influencing Fluidity
The Effects of Superheat on Fluidity
Liquid Metal Freezing Mode in a Plane Interface Mode Flow
Channel
Liquid Metal Freezing Mode in a Jagged Interface Mode
Flow Channel
Liquid Metal Freezing Mode in a Mode Independent
Crystallization Mode Flow Channel
 Fluidity or a.k.a castability is a quality of the
molten metal to flow and fill the mould cavity.

In casting terminology, fluidity is the distance to

which a metal, when casted at a given
temperature, will flow in a given test mould
DEFINITION before it is stopped by solidification.

OF FLUIDITY Physicists define fluidity as the reciprocal of the

coefficient of its viscosity.

Metallurgists define it as the ability of a liquid

metal or allow to flow freely, and thus to feed a
mould cavity and produce the desired contour
before freezing occurs.
 What is viscosity?
This question is often best answered by example.
Imagine a Styrofoam cup with a hole in the
bottom. If I then pour honey into the cup I will find
that the cup drains very slowly. That is because
honey's viscosity is large compared to other
liquids' viscosities. If I fill the same cup with water,
for example, the cup will drain much more
quickly.
CONCEPTUAL
Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to DIFFERENCE
flow. It describes the internal friction of a moving
fluid. A fluid with large viscosity resists motion TO VISCOSITY
because its molecular makeup gives it a lot of
internal friction. A fluid with low viscosity flows
easily because its molecular makeup results in
very little friction when it is in motion.

Gases also have viscosity, although it is a little

harder to notice it in ordinary circumstances.
https://www.princeton.edu/~gasdyn/Resea
rch/T-C_Research_Folder/Viscosity_def.html
FACTORS AFFECTING FLUIDITY
 FACTORS RELATED TO MELTING
Freezing Range of Alloy: fluidity is inversely proportional to the freezing
temperature range

Alloy composition: Eutectic composition has higher fluidity.

Inclusions: Insoluble particles can increase viscosity, reducing fluidity.

Surface Tension: Decreases fluidity; often caused by oxide film.

Viscosity: Higher viscosity decreases fluidity.

Latent Heat of Fusion of Alloy: Higher latent heat increases fluidity.

 FACTORS RELATED TO CASTING
Modulus: Fluidity length increases as the modulus (Volume/Surface Area) of
the casting increases

Section Thickness: Larger section thickness results in higher fluidity.

Heat Transfer Coefficient: A reduction in the rate of heat transfer will increase
fluidity.

Superheating: The temperature increment (increase/addition) above the

melting point increases fluidity.

Mold Temperature: A higher mould temperature would increase fluidity.

Pouring Rate: Lower pouring rate decreases fluidity due to faster cooling.
 MEASUREMENT OF FLUIDITY
This measurement is based on the analog condition of the metal in casting.
Fluidity measurement is done as the distance thats been passed by the
molten metal in a standardized closed channel system before the flow stops.
The parameter in this measurement called Flow Time or Fluid Life.
Traditionally fluidity has been measured in a spiral cast. The rationale behind
this is clearly the desire to compress the fluidity test into as small a cast as
possible, and that the flow distance is sensitive to levelling errors, and that
these are minimized by the spiral path of the liquid.
Various models are designed to get standard conditions and one of the way
is by designing a reservoir system to adjust the pressure head and make
casting equipment with a constant velocity to ensure the streaming of
metals to in a system with the same velocity.
 FLUIDITY TEST OF LIQUID METAL IN
VACUUM CONDITION
This test is the closes approach to the complete standard test with the
Vacuum Fluidity Test by Ragone, Adams and Taylor.
Using this tool, molten metal flows through the tube fine glass under the
influence of suction from the vacuum condition.
 TEMPERATURE
The most dominant factor is the first temperature of the molten metal.
Many researchers show that the fluidity of alloys realated with superheat
(heating above liquid temperature but still in the liquid phase).
It shows that the superheat determines the quantity of heat to be absorbed
before freezing.
THE EFFECT OF SUPERHEAT ON THE
FLUIDITY OF PURE METALS AND
ALLOYS (SB:STIBIUM/ANTIMONIUM,
SN: STANNUM/TIN)
 COMPOSITION
(CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF METAL)
A valid comparison of the fluidity of various alloys can be made at a
constant superheat temperature but under these conditions a certain
relationship arises between the alloy and fluidity.
High fluidity is commonly present in pure liquid metals or with eutectic
composition.
An alloy that forms a solid solution usually has a long freezing range that it
tends to have a low fluidity.
 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
COMPOSITION AND FLUIDITY OF
LEAD-TIN ALLOYS
 LIQUID METAL FREEZING MODE IN
THE PLANE INTERFACE MODE FLOW
CHANNEL
 LIQUID METAL FREEZING MODE
JAGGED INTERFACE MODE FLOW
CHANNEL
 LIQUID METAL FREEZING MODE
INDEPENDENT CRYSTALLIZATION
MODE FLOW CHANNEL
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !

FEEL FREE TO ASK FOR ANY QUESTIONS?