Squeeze casting is an advanced casting molding technology integrating casting and forging. Compared with traditional gravity die casting, the flowing molten metal is forced to be fed under high pressure, so precision castings with continuous dense microstructure and excellent high-strength properties can be obtained.
Squeeze casting technology has been widely used in industries such as automobiles, aircraft, and ships. CEX, a reliable squeeze casting manufacturer will reveal to you what squeeze casting is.
Squeeze Casting Introduction
As defined in the industry, squeeze casting is a mixed metal forming process, which is also known as liquid die forging.
Pressure die casting is combined with forging in the production process, where molten metal alloys are heated to melting temperature and poured into preheated (to maintain fluidity, extremely high temperatures) and lubricated dies, which are then forged at high temperatures and pressures.
Next, the material needs to be removed, rinsed with water, and then set.
During this process, the mold is slowly filled with metal to ensure that the mold cavity is filled.
Once the mold cavity is filled, the pressure on the melt increases to between 50 and 150 MPa.
At this time, the replenishment of molten metal cannot be interrupted to avoid metal shrinkage. This step continues until the casting solidifies.
Squeeze Manufacturing Characteristics
Typically, the equipment required for this process is less expensive than that required for HPDC or forging.
Low porosity and fine microstructure improve the mechanical properties and pressure resistance of castings.
Squeeze casting also has limitations. The structure of the parts should not be too complicated, and the processing requirements are higher and the cost is higher.
In recent years, the Horizontal Vertical Squeeze Casting (HVSC) process has been used to manufacture high-integrity automotive parts from different aluminum alloys.
At present, the squeeze casting process is mainly used for components with high technological requirements such as automobile cylinder blocks and gearbox accessories.
There are also common parts such as car wheels and motorcycle wheels.
The cycle steps of gravity casting and pressure solidification in extrusion die casting will greatly increase the cycle time.
To avoid oxide inclusions being forced into the casting by pressurization, it is necessary to continuously pour metal into it. Squeeze casting technology has the following characteristics:
- Greatly reduces the porosity of the metal, ensuring strength and ductility in all aspects.
- Provide a wider selection of alloy materials.
- Can be heat treated to improve performance.
Types of Squeeze Casting
Squeeze die casting is divided into two types. One is direct squeeze casting and the other is brief squeeze casting.
In the direct method, molten metal is introduced into the lower half of the mold, the upper half remains closed, and eventually, the molten metal fills the entire mold cavity.
In indirect squeeze casting, the metal melt is injected into the mold cavity through a thicker gate and lower velocity than in high-pressure die casting.
The pressure acts indirectly on the liquid metal through the runner.
The internal quality of indirect extrusion casting is lower than that of direct extrusion and higher than that of die casting.
Die Casting Advantages
Squeeze die casting itself is an improvement over the traditional die casting process. Originally, it combined two processes of casting and forging.
Squeeze die casting uses high pressure to solidify the mold and molten metal.
By applying high temperature and high pressure to the molten metal, it is possible to obtain virtually porosity-free products in high-density casting.
Significant advantages of squeeze cast products are high strength and lightweight.
You can find companies like BBS, a high-end car hub manufacturer, that use squeeze casting to produce their products.
Squeeze Casting Material
Squeeze casting can be used to cast a variety of metals, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals, aluminum, zinc, magnesium, and copper are the alloys most commonly cast using this process, which allows you to compound multiple materials.
If it is a relatively simple structure of ferrous metal parts, such as nickel material, it can also be formed by extrusion die casting.
Squeeze Casting vs Other Processing
| Items | Squeeze casting | Forging | Investment Casting | High-Pressure Casting | Low-Pressure Casting |
| Surface | Fine | Fine | Bad | Fine | Medium |
| Roughness | Ra3.2~1.6 | Ra3.2~1.6 | Ra6.3~3.2 | Ra3.2~1.6 | Ra6.3~3.2 |
| Inside | Fine Grain & Compact Microstructure | Fine Grain & Compact Microstructure | Coarse Grain & Loosen Microstructure | Inhomogeneous Grain & Loosen Microstructure | Coarse Grain & Loosen Microstructure |
| Heat Treatment | T6 | T6 | T6 | Can’t do T6 | T6 |
| Structure Level | Complex Structure | Simple Structure | Complex Structure | Complex Structure | Simple Structure |
| Framing Accuracy | High | Medium | Medium | High | Low |
| Extra Machining | Minor | More | More | Minor | More |
| Production Efficiency | High | Low | Low | High | Low |
| Mechanical Properties | Same or Close to Forging | Highest | Medium | Low | Low |
Squeezeform Application
Squeeze casting was first patented by Hollinggrak in 1819 and further developed in 1878 when he applied steam pressure to molten metal during solidification.
Despite the century-old invention, the commercialization of squeeze casting did not begin in North America, Europe, and Japan until after 1960, for the production of aluminum auto parts. The first large-scale application was Toyota’s alloy wheels.
By 2022, squeeze casting will be widely used in the automotive industry and the shipbuilding industry.
Including automobile anti-collision beams, engine blocks, steering brackets, propellers, etc.
Reliable China Squeeze Casting Manufacturer
Qingdao Chengenxin Industry and Trade Co., Ltd. (Abbreviation as CEX) built a factory area of about 15,000 square meters following ISO standards.
We have been a squeeze casting manufacturer since 1985, capabilities range from squeeze casting, die casting, mold development, 3D printing, and CNC machining.
We use an 80*300mm testing platform, tensile testing machine, hardness testing machine, and 3D scanner to help us with quality control.
AOL standard inspection report, material certification, mechanical property test report, and ROHS certificate will be provided with delivery.
90% of our products are exported to countries all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Finland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Guinea, Australia, etc.
If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
