Aluminium die casting alloy resists corrosion

Citation

(2009), "Aluminium die casting alloy resists corrosion", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 56 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2009.12856bad.005

Aluminium die casting alloy resists corrosion

Article Type: New materials and equipment From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 56, Issue 2

Delphi Corp has signed a strategic licensing agreement with Beck Aluminum to produce and market Delphi’s patented corrosion-resistant K-Alloy. The agreement is designed to improve the competitiveness of the product through increased availability at attractive prices. The Delphi agreement with Beck Aluminum helps simplify the process to gain access to the patented material.

“We are excited to announce this new relationship with Beck Aluminum,” said Timothy Forbes, Delphi Director of Commercialisation and Licensing. “Our new strategic licensing agreement will allow us to significantly increase the adoption of this outstanding alloy by increasing the availability to aluminium die casters”.

Delphi’s K-Alloy is an innovative new aluminium die casting alloy that resists corrosion. It can eliminate expensive processes such as anodising, chromating, powder coating and painting that are designed to slow corrosion. In addition to cosmetic improvements, K-Alloy provides increased functional durability for aluminium cast components in harsh environments.

Originally developed to withstand extreme salt corrosion and temperatures, vibration and shock experienced in vehicle engine electronics, K-Alloy aluminium is now currently used or being tested on products as diverse as sporting goods, outdoor lighting, furniture, water systems, mail boxes, radios, communications enclosures and vehicle roof racks.

K-Alloy has been tested to withstand 3 kh of salt spray testing with no metal loss or surface damage. Other aluminium alloys would require additional processes and/or coatings to withstand this harsh environment.

“Beck is ISO certified and has support resources serving an extensive customer base,” said Bryan Beck, Executive Vice President of Beck Aluminum. “K-Alloy’s unique qualities allow Beck to offer customers a product that will provide them with rugged durability and more process flexibility”.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Beck Aluminum is the largest distributor of primary aluminium alloys in North America. The company currently supplies aluminium alloys for more than 700 customer locations in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

In addition, Beck Aluminum International was recently formed by the company to handle their growing import/export shipments. Every month Beck Aluminum sells more than £30 million of aluminium products and recycles approximately £15 million of scrap.

“We’re pleased that we’re already producing over 100,000 pounds of K-Alloy per month at our smelter in Lebanon, Pennsylvania,” Beck said. “We have already had inquiries for new programs and applications that will each require several million pounds of K-Alloy per year”.

Delphi has appointed MDW Technologies as its technical and licensing representative to broaden its customer base.

For more information please contact: www.delphi.com