Possibility of Utilization of Gate Geometry to Modify the Mechanical and Structural Properties of Castings on the Al-Si Basis

The mechanical properties of die castings correlate with the inner structure of a casting, distribution of the eutectic phases, and with the content and distribution of porous cavities in the casting volume. This submitted paper deals with the issue of the possibility to influence the basic parameters affecting the quality of castings through structural modifications of the gating system. The structural parameter under assessment is the gate height. In the case of the diverse height of the gate, five sets of castings were produced. The individual sets of castings were subjected to examination of selected mechanical properties, i.e., of permanent deformation and surface hardness. At the same time, the individual sets of castings were subjected to metallographic examination of the eutectic structure of the casting. It was proved that the gate height influences the aforementioned properties of the castings and significantly affects the ratio of the eutectic phases in the volume of the casting. The conclusion describes the mutual correlation between the gate structure, the mechanical properties of the casting, and its structural composition.