Pengaruh Variasi Temperatur Tuang dan Ukuran Butir Pasir Terhadap Pengecoran Aluminium 6061 pada Produk Propeller

Abstract

The sand casting process using 6061 aluminum has the potential to produce propeller products with good mechanical properties. However, casting quality is influenced by process parameters such as variations in pouring temperature and sand grain size. This study aims to analyze the influence of these two parameters and determine the optimal combination for hardness and microstructure. The pouring temperatures used were 690°C, 710°C, and 730°C with sand mesh sizes of 40, 50, and 60. Testing was conducted using hardness tests and microstructural observations. The results show that increasing the pouring temperature and using finer sand increases the hardness value. The highest hardness value was obtained at 730°C and a 60-mesh size, at 42.68 HBW, while the lowest was at 690°C and a 40-mesh size, at 40.19 HBW. The best microstructure results were shown by the combination of high temperature and fine sand, which produced smaller grain sizes, a more uniform phase distribution, and a more homogeneous microstructure. This study demonstrates that variations in pouring temperature and sand grain size significantly influence the hardness and microstructure of 6061 aluminum produced via sand casting for propeller components.