Three major articles from a comprehensive new handbook on casting technology
may be downloaded free of charge from ASM
International, the materials information society. “Modeling of Microsegregation
and Macrosegregation,” “Modeling of Stress, Distortion, and Hot
Tearing,” and “Practical Issues in Computer Simulation of Casting
Processes” are available free from the ASM International website.
The articles are from the ASM Handbook, Volume 15, on Casting, a comprehensive
new reference for those who specify, manufacture, design or evaluate cast metal
components.
The ASM Handbook on Casting is the latest in a series considered to be the
bible of metallurgy by generations of materials scientists and engineers. Volume
15 covers the art, science and technology of casting, and also provides an update
on casting advances achieved during the past 20 years.
The ASM Handbook on Casting primarily focuses on products and processes of
foundry (shape) casting, although primary (ingot or continuous casting) of steel
and aluminum are also covered. Shape casting of metal is dominated by cast iron,
which constitutes just over 70 percent of the worldwide production of castings
on a tonnage basis, followed by steel, copper-alloy, and aluminum-alloy castings.
“The dominance of just a few alloys in shape casting is due to the fact
that successful and economic shape casting typically involves alloy compositions
near a eutectic,” said Srinath Viswanathan, University of Alabama, chair
of the Volume 15 editorial committee. “The lower melting points and narrower
freezing range of near-eutectic compositions promote better castability.”
New topics covered in Volume 15 include computer technology that shortens development
time and helps to simulate the casting process, and automation and robotic technologies
that improve the productivity and process control of casting. Newer processes
like semisolid processing, squeeze casting, lost-foam, vacuum molding and various
die-casting technologies are also covered. High pressure die casting of aluminum
is another major area that has been expanded and updated in the newest ASM Handbook.
Coverage of sand casting is expanded and consolidated with major articles on
green sand molding, no-bake sand molding and shell molding and shell coremaking.
Bonded sand mold casting, though well established for many years, is the most
widely used method of casting on a tonnage basis. Improvement in methods and
materials continue to provide better yields, productivity and product quality.
The sand system is also a major factor in the economics of large volume production
casting. The book’s coverage of sand casting gives product designers and
metal casters some common ground for developing successful and economical products.
The ASM Handbook on Casting has been peer-reviewed to ensure quality and usefulness.
The editorial committee includes Diran Apelian, Worcester Polytechnic Institute;
Rathindra DasGupta, National Science Foundation; Michael Gywn, ATI; John L.
Jorstad, J.L.J. Technologies, Inc.; Raymond W. Monroe, Steel Founders' Society
of America; Thomas E. Prucha, American Foundry Society; Mahi Sahoo, CANMET Materials
Technology Laboratory; Edward S. Szekeres, Casting Consultants Incorporated;
and Daniel Twarog, North American Die Casting Association.
Price of the new ASM Handbook on Casting is $264 (ASM members, $212). To order
book number 05115G or to download the free sample articles, visit the ASM Store
at http://www.asminternational.org or contact ASM Customer Service, ASM International,
440/338-5151, dial 0.
ASM International is Everything Material, the Ohio-based society serving the
materials science and engineering community. With 36,000 members worldwide.
ASM provides authoritative information and knowledge on materials and processes
from the structural to the nanoscale.
Posted February 14th, 2009