What is Vacuum Impregnation and Why it is Important for Die Cast

Durable die cast metal plays an integral role in the interior and exterior of automobiles. The automobile segment needs components that are completely sealed and safeguards against external threats like corrosive fluidic agents and moisture. Using lightweight raw material and electronic parts, which provide higher miles per gallon, monitors safety systems and maintains a uniform build, needs the elimination of potential loopholes. Yet aspects such as porosity, leakage paths, and minuscule holes are tough to avoid in casted electronic components of automobiles like wires and coils.

Such loopholes may spread across the electronic components of vehicles and may cause a failure. Fluids, moisture, and minuscule particles may enter the casted part and make its way through the leakage path, causing failure inside the electronic systems. When the die cast parts are made for automobiles, sealing is also needed to withstand fluid apart from maintaining the longevity of the component. Light materials in die casting give thin wall parts with complex design. However, such components can be prone to porous voids and needs a solution like vacuum impregnation.

Vacuum impregnation helps in sealing the automobile component and safeguarding the automotive part against external threats. Often the casted components are made of lightweight aluminum, magnesium, steel, and even carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The design changes in the component further lessen the component weight. The lighter raw materials contribute thinner walls and complex design during the casting process and that makes them susceptible to porous voids.

While such areas may be tough to identify, the presence of porous voids can be determined by submerging the component in water and by forcing through 5 psi air pressure. When forced air rushes past the porous voids, the loophole becomes more obvious to the naked eye thanks to vacuum impregnation.

Vacuum impregnation is a tried and test solution for fully sealing the porosity in die cast components of automobiles and electronic parts. It eliminates the scrap caused by porosity, saves many of the resources, brings down the labor cost substantially, and also eliminates the warranty needs of the vehicle owner owing to the better quality finish.

Vacuum impregnation can be of three different types namely dry vacuum impregnation, wet vacuum impregnation, and dry vacuum and pressure. All of the three methods are adopted by Original Equipment Manufacturers and suppliers of automotive parts as applicable to die cast quality parts.