Electrical and thermal conductivity of A319 and A356 aluminum alloys

A rotational contactless inductive measurement technique has been used to m easure the electrical resistivity of A319 and A356 aluminum alloys at both solid and liquid states. The method is based on the phenomena that when a c onducting material rotates in a magnetic field, circulating eddy currents a re induced and generate an opposing torque, which is proportional to the el ectrical conductivity of the material. The technique was checked and calibr ated with pure aluminum where considerable electrical resistivity data exis t in the literature. Wiedemann-Franz-Lorenz law was used to estimate the th ermal conductivity of A319 and A356 aluminum alloys in liquid state. (C) 20 01 Kluwer Academic Publishers.