Concentrated “Multi Alloys” – CMA
CMA is a range of unique concentrated multi-element master alloys designed to provide many advantages to small to mid size casthouses and die casters.
The CMA concept is simple. Using specialised manufacturing equipment, a concentrated version of our customers’ required casting alloys is produced. The customers then simply “dilute” the CMA in their casthouses with standard primary aluminium ingots. CMA alloys are designed to provide the die caster with a lower cost, high quality alternative to conventional casting alloys.
The main benefits of using CMA alloys are casthouse efficiency and consistent quality. Since all the required alloying elements are already in solution in the CMA alloys, the dissolution rate is very fast. Results show that alloying is generally complete within 10 minutes and at normal furnace operating temperatures. There is no need to over-heat the furnace charge to speed dissolution. With the alloying time drastically reduced, casthouse production can be increased. Secondly, the very high recoveries obtained from using CMA and the fixed ratio of alloying elements, provide a much greater consistency in chemistry between heats.
For example, a die caster requiring A356.2 could use a CMA with 7 times the required composition level. In the Casthouse 1 part of CMA A356.2-7X with 6 parts of standard P1020 ingot.
|
Si |
Fe |
Mg |
Ti |
---|---|---|---|---|
CMA A356.2 – 7X |
49 |
0.15 |
2.30 |
0.85 |
|
|
|
|
|
P1020 |
0.05 |
0.09 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
RESULTING A356.2 |
7.04 |
0.10 |
0.34 |
0.13 |
CMA alloys are available for a wide range of wide range of applications including die casting, extrusion and electrical conductor alloys. Custom CMA alloys can be produced to customers’ individual requirements.
Advantages
- High purity (made only from primary raw materials)
- Rapid dissolution (decreases alloying time/ increases productivity)
- Consistent and reliable chemical analysis
- High recovery (equivalent to use of standard pre-alloyed ingots)
- Cost effective
- Lower inventory
- Greater flexibility