Major Activities

• Development of twin-roll casting process of aluminum alloys and components for automotive and mobile electronics applications : 1 domestic patent applied, 1 international patent registered, 3 million KRW of technology transfer, 1 follow-up project
• Development of high-performance aluminum casting alloys by ultrasonic melt treatment : 2 papers published, 1 domestic patents registered
• Electromagnetically melt-treated multicomponent high-strength aluminum alloys : 3 papers published
• Development of fabrication processes of high energy absorbing aluminum form : 1 paper published, 1 domestic patent registered

Major Research Area

• Improvement of critical properties in castings based on melt treatment
• Development of high-strength, high-ductility, non-heat-treated aluminum alloys for diecasting
• High strength and high thermal conductivity alloys and simultaneous improvement of strength and elongation through microstructure control
• Low-cost fabrication process of high strength aluminum alloy sheets and components for automotive and mobile electronics applications
• High strength extrusion/casting alloys for electric vehicle chassis parts
• High strength and high heat stability aluminum alloy based on interface-controlled nano-precipitates

Future Research Plan

• Aerospace aluminum sheet alloys
• Giga-strength aluminum alloys by multi-scale complex precipitates with externally applied energy
• Development of an innovative aluminum technology for shielding a large capacity and high voltage xEV generator
• Non-heat-treatable aluminum alloys for thin-walled, large area near-net-shape diecasting
• Precipitation-strengthened high-strength heat-resistant aluminum alloys
• Materials and shape design of energy-absorbing aluminum alloy components
• Optimization technology for alloys and processes using machine learning and virtual alloy design platform with reliable aluminum casting material database

Major R&D Activities

Improvement of the mechanical properties of aluminum cast alloys via the melt treatment process

[Objective]

• Design of the melt treatment process in consideration of the liquid structure control, and the application of the process to improve the strength/ductility of the Al-Si-(Cu)-Mg cast alloy

[Results]

• Design of melt treatment process and alloying elements suitable for liquid structure control
• Analysis of microstructures with melt treatment for Al-Si-(Cu)-Mg alloys
• Simultaneous improvement of strength and ductility of Al-Si-(Cu)-Mg alloys via suitable melt treatment process

Aluminum casting alloys with high strength/conductivity

[Objective]

• Development of a new aluminum casting alloy with high strength and high thermal conductivity for its application to xEV enclosures requiring strength/conductivity trade-off
• A novel process of Fe-rich intermetallics modification for the improvement of ductility/strength/conductivity trade-offs and the recyclability

[Results]

• Development of low Si aluminum casting alloys with high thermal conductivity, 200 W/mK and high yield strength, 180 MPa (KIMS owned technology)
• Improvement of strength/conductivity trade-off through controlling constituent phases in aluminum casting alloy (1 domestic patent application)
• A feasible process developed to improve the tolerance level of Fe impurities in Al-Si casting alloys for 100% recyclability

Development of high strength aluminum alloy sheets and components for automotive and mobile electronic applications

[Objective]

• Development of aluminum alloy sheets for automotive and mobile electronic applications by utilizing twin-roll casting and follow-up process to reduce manufacturing cost.

[Results]

• Optimization of thermo-mechanical process of 6XXX/7XXX series high-strength aluminum alloy sheets for automotive applications
• Development of high-speed twin-roll casting process to promote productivity of aluminum sheets for automotive applications
• Development of automotive and mobile electronic components using high strength aluminum alloys sheets fabricated by twin-roll casting process