À l’ère du poids léger, économie d'énergie, et production à haute efficacité – à partir de véhicules à énergie nouvelle (NEV) to consumer electronics—light metal die casting has become an irreplaceable manufacturing technology. Il injecte des métaux légers en fusion (aluminium, magnésium, alliages de zinc) dans des moules de précision à haute pression et vitesse, complexe formant, composants haute performance qui équilibrent la réduction de poids, résistance structurelle, et rentabilité. Cet article détaille ses principes fondamentaux, material characteristics, types de processus, scénarios d'application, and solutions to industry challenges, helping you fully grasp its value and practical application.
1. What Are the Core Principles and Features of Light Metal Die Casting?
To understand its advantages, we first clarify the technical logic and unique traits that distinguish it from traditional casting processes.
1.1 Core Working Principle
Light metal die casting relies on a “high-pressure filling + rapid solidification” mechanism:
- Fusion: Light metals (par ex., alliage d'aluminium) are melted in a crucible to form a molten state (température: 650-720°C for aluminum, 380-450°C for zinc).
- High-Pressure Injection: The molten metal is pushed into a closed steel mold cavity at pressures of 30-120MPa and speeds of 0.5-120m/s—ensuring it fills even thin-walled (0.5-3mm) or complex structures.
- Rapid Solidification: The mold’s cooling system (water or oil circulation) accelerates solidification (0.05-0.5 secondes), locking in the part’s shape and dimensional accuracy.
- Démoulage: Le moule s'ouvre, and an ejection system pushes out the finished part—ready for post-processing (par ex., ébavurage, traitement de surface).
1.2 Three Key Features
| Feature | Technical Advantage | Practical Impact |
| Haute efficacité | Standardized molds enable rapid cycle production (10-60 seconds per part for zinc alloys; 30-120 seconds for aluminum alloys) | Mass production of small/medium parts (par ex., 10,000+ NEV battery brackets per day) |
| Precision Forming | Tolérance dimensionnelle: IT8-IT10; Rugosité de la surface: Ra 1.6-6.3μm | Reduces post-processing by 50-70% (par ex., aluminum alloy electronic housings need no extra grinding) |
| Material Adaptability | Optimizes process parameters for light metals’ properties (par ex., aluminum’s corrosion resistance, magnesium’s lightweight) | Maximizes material advantages—e.g., magnesium alloy parts are 33% lighter than aluminum while maintaining strength |
2. Which Light Metals Are Commonly Used, and What Are Their Traits?
Material selection directly determines part performance and application scope. Aluminium, magnésium, and zinc alloys are the three mainstream options, each with distinct strengths:
2.1 Comparison of Common Light Metals for Die Casting
| Metal/Alloy | Key Characteristics | Densité (g/cm³) | Propriétés mécaniques | Typical Application Areas |
| Alliage d'aluminium (A380, A356) | – Excellente résistance à la corrosion (resists oxidation in humid environments)- Good thermal conductivity (205 Avec(m·K), 2x better than steel)- Rentable (1/3 the price of magnesium alloy) | 2.7 | – Résistance à la traction: 200-350MPa- Élongation: 3-12% | – NEV: Battery shells, motor housings- Électronique: 5G base station antenna brackets- Aérospatial: Cabin structural parts |
| Magnesium Alloy (AZ91D, AM60B) | – Ultra-léger (lightest structural metal for die casting)- High specific strength/stiffness (strength-to-weight ratio better than aluminum)- Strong electromagnetic shielding (protects electronic components from interference) | 1.8 | – Résistance à la traction: 170-280MPa- Élongation: 2-10% | – Automobile: Dashboards, moyeux de roue- Électronique: Laptop shells, cadres de smartphones- Médical: Lightweight device casings |
| Zinc Alloy (ZA27, Zamak5) | – Point de fusion bas (facile à traiter, économise de l'énergie)- Excellente fluidité (fills tiny mold details <0.1mm)- Long mold life (100,000+ cycles, 2x longer than aluminum alloy molds) | 6.4 | – Résistance à la traction: 280-400MPa- Dureté: HB 80-120 | – Small precision parts: Toy gears, stationery accessories- Composants décoratifs: Poignées de porte, curseurs de fermeture éclair- Électronique: Boîtiers de capteurs |
3. What Are the Main Process Types of Light Metal Die Casting?
Process selection depends on metal melting points, complexité de la pièce, et exigences de qualité. Traditional processes meet basic needs, while improved technologies solve defects like porosity:
3.1 Traditional Die Casting Processes
| Process Type | Core Mechanism | Suitable Metals | Avantages | Limites |
| Moulage sous pression en chambre froide | Molten metal is poured into an independent cold chamber before injection | High-melting-point metals (aluminium, magnésium) | – Handles large/complex parts (par ex., NEV battery trays)- Avoids mold overheating | – Longer cycle time (30-120 seconds/part)- Higher equipment cost |
| Moulage sous pression en chambre chaude | The injection system is immersed in a molten metal pool (integrated design) | Low-melting-point metals (zinc, lead) | – Ultra-fast cycle time (10-30 seconds/part)- Simple operation, low energy consumption | – Limited to small parts (<5kilos)- Mold prone to corrosion (short life for zinc alloys) |
3.2 Improved & Innovative Processes
These technologies address traditional defects (par ex., porosité) and expand application scope:
| Innovative Process | Key Improvement | Suitable Scenarios | Performance Gain |
| Coulée sous vide | Extracts air from the mold cavity (vacuum degree: -0.095 à -0.098MPa) avant l'injection | Pièces de haute qualité (par ex., automotive engine cylinder heads) | Reduces porosity by 80-90%; Improves tensile strength by 15-20% |
| Oxygenated Die Casting | Injects oxygen into the cavity to form oxide particles (diffused distribution) | Parts requiring heat treatment (par ex., aluminum alloy suspension arms) | Eliminates internal pores; Enables T6 heat treatment (force +25%) |
| Semi-Solid Die Casting | Controls solid phase rate (40-60%) of molten metal; Uses laminar flow filling | Thin-walled, pièces de haute précision (par ex., smartphone midframes) | Reduces shrinkage by 70%; Improves structural uniformity |
| Coulée par compression | Applies external pressure (100-200MPa) pendant la solidification | Thick-walled structural parts (par ex., supports aérospatiaux) | Increases density to ≥99.5%; Boosts impact resistance by 30-40% |
4. What Are the Key Application Scenarios and Industry Trends?
Light metal die casting is widely used in industries driven by lightweight and precision demands. Below are its core application fields and future development directions:
4.1 Core Application Fields
| Industrie | Exemples d'application | Driving Demand |
| Automobile (NEV) | – Alliage d'aluminium: Battery shells, motor housings, shock absorber towers- Alliage de magnésium: Interior door panels, cadres de sièges | Léger (every 100kg weight reduction increases range by ~100km); Structural strength (resists collision impacts) |
| Electronique grand public | – Alliage de magnésium: Laptop shells, tablet backplanes- Alliage d'aluminium: Smart TV frames, wireless charger housings | Thinness/lightness (par ex., laptop weight <1kilos); Surface quality (Ra ≤3.2μm for aesthetics) |
| Aérospatial | – High-performance aluminum alloy: Composants du moteur, cabin partitions | Réduction de poids (lowers fuel consumption); Stabilité à haute température (works at 150-200°C) |
| Green Manufacturing | – Recycled aluminum/magnesium alloys: Quincaillerie pour meubles, outils de jardin | Environmental protection (recycled aluminum uses 5% of the energy of primary aluminum); Circular economy |
4.2 Future Trends (2024-2030)
- Intelligent Production: AI-based process monitoring (real-time adjustment of injection pressure/speed) reduces defect rates to <1%; Digital twins simulate mold life (extends service life by 20-30%).
- Material Innovation: Development of “heat-resistant magnesium alloys” (works at 200-250°C) to replace aluminum in high-temperature automotive parts (par ex., carters moteur).
- Large Integrated Casting: NEV body-in-white (BIW) integration—one die-cast part replaces 50+ stamped parts (reduces assembly time by 60%; cuts body weight by 15%).
5. What Are the Industry Challenges and Practical Solutions?
Malgré ses avantages, light metal die casting faces technical and operational hurdles. Below are targeted solutions:
| Défi | Root Cause | Solution | Expected Outcome |
| Magnesium Alloy Oxidation/Burning | Magnesium has low ignition point (550°C); Reacts with oxygen easily | – Use SF₆ + CO₂ mixed inert gas protection during melting- Add 0.5-1% calcium to magnesium alloy (improves oxidation resistance) | Burning risk reduced to <0.1%; Alloy yield increased by 10-15% |
| High Silicon Aluminum Alloy Mold Adhesion | Silicon in the alloy (par ex., 7.5-9.5% in A380) adheres to mold surfaces during solidification | – Coat mold cavity with TiN (nitrure de titane) revêtement- Optimize mold temperature (maintain 180-220°C for aluminum alloys) | Adhesion defect rate reduced from 5% à <0.5% |
| Low Production Efficiency for Complex Parts | Traditional cold chamber processes have long cycle times | – Adopt robotic automatic pouring systems (reduces loading time by 40%)- Use multi-cavity molds (par ex., 4-cavity for zinc alloy sensor housings) | Capacité de production augmentée de 50-80% |
| High Equipment Investment | Large die-casting machines (par ex., 9000T for NEV BIW) cost $10M+ | – Small/medium enterprises: Lease equipment (reduces upfront cost by 80%)- Industry collaboration: Share mold development costs (cuts R&D expenses by 30-40%) | Lowers entry barrier; Promotes technology popularization |
6. Yigu Technology’s Perspective on Light Metal Die Casting
Chez Yigu Technologie, we view light metal die casting as the “core enabler of lightweight manufacturing”—especially for NEVs and consumer electronics. Our practice shows that 65% of clients achieve 20-30% weight reduction by switching from steel to aluminum/magnesium die-cast parts.
We recommend a “material-process matching” approach: For NEV battery shells, we use vacuum die casting + Alliage d'aluminium A356 (ensures air tightness; reduces porosity to <0.3%); For laptop shells, we adopt semi-solid die casting + Alliage de magnésium AZ91D (achieves 1.2mm thin walls; cuts weight by 25%). We also integrate IoT sensors to monitor mold temperature in real time, reducing defect rates to <0.8%. Looking ahead, combining this technology with recycled materials will be key to balancing performance and sustainability.
7. FAQ: Common Questions About Light Metal Die Casting
Q1: Can light metal die-cast parts undergo heat treatment to improve strength?
Oui, but it depends on the process: Vacuum or oxygenated die casting eliminates pores, making parts suitable for heat treatment (par ex., T6 solution aging for aluminum alloys—tensile strength +25%). Traditional die-cast parts with high porosity cannot be heat-treated (heat causes pore expansion and cracking).
Q2: Which is more cost-effective for NEV parts—aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy die casting?
Aluminum alloy is more cost-effective for most cases: It has 1/3 the material cost of magnesium alloy and uses mature cold chamber processes (lower equipment maintenance). Magnesium alloy is better for high-end NEVs where weight reduction is critical (par ex., premium electric sedans)—the extra cost is offset by extended driving range.
Q3: What is the maximum part size achievable with light metal die casting?
Actuellement, the practical limit is parts weighing 50-80kg and measuring 2-3m (par ex., NEV BIW rear floors). Pour les pièces plus grandes (par ex., 3m+ truck frames), multi-part die casting + welding is used. With 12,000T+ large die-casting machines, the limit will extend to 100kg+ parts by 2025.