9614076 Conley Net shape aluminum casting and their production applications have gained a great attention by companies in the U.S. and Mexico. As government regulation forces automotive manufacturers to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency, the suitability of aluminum alloys to replace ferrous materials become more attractive. This collaborative research project addresses fundamental issues on the design and microstructural characterization of near net shape aluminum alloy castings between Northwestern University and the Institute Politecnico Nacional in Mexico. Under the NSF CONACyT Collaborative Research Project Initiatives, NSF supports international collaborative research activities in the areas where efforts are likely to produce complementary and synergistic effects. The research project has a balance between theory and experiment, and will provide valuable findings for the aluminum alloy casting industry.
