Solid State Phenomena Vols. 141-143

Abstract: A novel technique for the production of functionally gradient materials, developed by the authors, is presented. The process is known as the Cast-Decant-Cast or CDC process, and involves a partial solidification step. This process takes expensive and time-consuming factors out of the production of functionally gradient materials by enabling utilisation of standard foundry equipment, and the process is carried out in a single multi-step casting operation. The CDC process involves simultaneous but separate melting of two alloys of different composition in order to produce a gradient in material properties. Details of the process are presented. It is shown that the outcome depends on partial local remelting and alloy mixing, which results in a gradual change or gradient between the first and second alloys in the as-cast condition, hence producing a functionally gradient material. The process has been adapted to conventional casting methods such as gravity casting and low pressure casting. It is the method of decanting the first material from the mould that differentiates the process variants. The decanting step for the low pressure method is controlled by pressure application and release on the molten alloys within their respective, but separate, sealed holding chambers. Decanting for the gravity casting method began as a physical inversion of the mould and is now at the point of autodecanting through careful design of an innovative gating system. The CDC process has been proven by means of metallographic study of microstructure to produce functionally gradient materials. Adapting the CDC process to conventional casting methods has made it a potentially commercially viable option for numerous applications. The results of recent research on the process are presented in summary form, including multi-alloy experiments, observations on the influence of timing and thermal control, and FGM manufacture using MMCs and joining dissimilar metals.

Abstract: This paper will use a new method for predicting grain size and then apply it to various solidification environments to reveal which factors are dominant in determining the final grain size. This study will only focus on methods where the grain size is set during a solidification process. These processes include grain refinement by inoculation of the melt with grain refining particles, increasing the cooling rate, low superheat casting, ultrasonic treatment and the use of chill moulds. Each of these methods can control the grain size to some extent but in order to predict the outcome it needs to be understood how the alloy constitution, inoculant particle characteristics and the casting conditions affect the prime nucleation event for the formation of new grains. These methodologies are currently being used, or have potential to be used, for the production of fine spherical grained semi-solid slurries.

Abstract: Preparation of semi-solid microstructure of 7075 aluminum alloy industrial extrusion billets was studied in this paper. A new semi-solid microstructure preparation process is proposed. In the treatment, melting-stirring and predeformation of the alloy billets are not required. An ideal microstructure and higher dimensional precision of the billet can be obtained only with a direct heating and insulation method. The influences of different heating temperatures and insulation time on the microstructure evolution were studied with orthogonal testing methods. The obtained microstructure was observed and analyzed by optical microscopy, and the formation mechanism of the semi-solid microstructure is further discussed. The results indicate that a fine microstructure can be obtained with the proposed process and the processing parameters can be controlled over a wide range. Also, the grain microstructure obtained by the present process is better than that of the SIMA. For 7075 aluminum alloy billets, perfect fine equiaxial grains can be obtained under a heating temperature of 620°C and a holding time of about 25 minutes. The average grain size is around 80μm.

Abstract: In this work, effective parameters of SIMA process to obtain non dendritic microstructure in A356 alloy were investigated. In addition, the effect of SIMA process on the evolution of morphology of silicon and intermetallic phases in this alloy was studied. Microstructure images obtained from optical microscopy and SEM observation showed that increase in plastic work up to 40% and then holding of samples in the semi solid state at temperature of 580oC, causes that primary dendritic structure changes to non dendritic, fine and globular structure, but optimum reheating time completely depended on initial thickness of samples. If all parameters of SIMA process are the same, the grain boundaries of thinner samples begin to wet and following globalization will be completed in shorter reheating time rather than thicker ones. Moreover, it was found that the intermetallic phases lost their angular or needle morphology and gradually changed to rounded morphology and even to globular form. Also the optimum reheating time thoroughly depends on primary casting microstructure as the finer casting microstructure begin to globalize faster than thicker one under more little stains.

Abstract: Current processing methods for metal matrix composites (MMC) often produces agglomerated reinforced particles in the ductile matrix and also form unwanted brittle secondary phases due to chemical reaction between matrix and the reinforcement. As a result they exhibit extremely low ductility. In addition to the low ductility, the current processing methods are not economical for producing engineering components. In this paper we demonstrate that these problems can be solved to a certain extent by a novel rheo-process. The key step in this process is application of sufficient shear stress on particulate clusters embedded in liquid metal to overcome the average cohesive force of the clusters. Very high shear stress can be achieved by using the specially designed twin-screw machine, developed at Brunel University, in which the liquid undergoes high shear stress and high intensity of turbulence. Experiments with Al alloys and SiC reinforcement reveal that, under high shear stress and turbulence conditions Al liquid penetrates into the clusters and disperse the individual particle within the cluster, thus leading to a uniform microstructure.

Abstract: A simple method for estimating the apparent viscosity of semi-solid alloys was investigated. A drop weight of 50Kg and backward extrusion equipments were used to test the deformation. Backward extrusion was employed in a closed die system due to the very little separation of liquid from solid phases compared with other methods at very high deformation rate. The half of the calculated impact velocity, 700mm/s was considered as an average velocity for deformation during the test, since the slop of the velocity changes against time is constant in the middle stage of the deformation. The initial height of the sample and the thickness of the residual compressed solid at the bottom of the cup were used to calculate the amount of apparent viscosity of A356 aluminum alloy in this work.

Abstract: This study demonstrated nanoindentation techniques of investigating the effects of size and feature in a microstructure on the mechanical properties of rheology-forged aluminum alloy. Mechanical properties and tribological characteristics of rheology-forged Al2024 wrought aluminum alloy in terms of T6 heat treatment were investigated by varying the aging time by nanoindentation and nanoscratch techniques. By nanoindentation/nanoscratch tests and atomic force microscopy, it was demonstrated that the 4 hour aged material exhibites the highest hardness because of the intermediate precipitate phase θ″, which was precipitated by T6 heat treatment at 495°C. Moreover, the friction coefficients in the precipitates in the eutectic phase region were lower than those in the primary α phase region.

Abstract: In this study, in order to compare effect of unidirectional compression and rolling on final microstructure of strain induced melt activated (SIMA) A356 aluminum alloy, rectangular samples with dimensions of 3cm×5cm in area and 1cm in thickness and cylindrical specimens with 2.5cm in diameter and 1cm in length, have been prepared for rolling and compressing processes, respectively. Then, these samples were plastically deformed at a same strain in ambient temperature. Afterward, the strained samples were cut into equal quarters. In the next stage, to produce globular microstructure, these specimens were partially remelted in 580°C for different times. Results obtained from light microscopy showed that specimen's thickness and so, its strain affected zones influence on the globulization of dendrites. In addition, it was seen that at a given strain and constant diameter, increase of H/D ratio led to increase of needed time for reaching a certain sphericity in cylindrical samples. Also, it was showed that microstructural evolutions during SIMA processing of both rolled and unidirectional compressed samples were relatively identical. However, at a same condition, ultimate size of globulized dendrites in the rolled samples was smaller than those of compressed ones.

Abstract: Semi- solid (SS) processing technologies provide the production of metal parts with homogeneous, fine and globular – grained microstructure. This is one of the most successful and reliable methods to produce near net shape products exhibiting good mechanical properties. Production of feed stock with non-dendritic and spherical structure is the critical factors in semisolid forming. Among several processes to obtain a globular microstructure, the SIMA (strain induced melt activated) process is simple and advantageous with respect to equipment and eliminating the melting stage before reheating. In this research, Al (A356) has been used and in order to induce strain, ECAP (equal channel angular pressing) method has been applied. ECAP is a method in which a great strain is induced and severe plastic deformation without any changes in cross section area occurs. To induce larger strain, ECAP process was carried out on annealed specimens up to several passes in route A (no rotation of samples around linear axis between each pass) and Bc (90◦ rotation of samples around linear axis between each pass), in ambient temperature. The reheating condition was optimized and the comparison between different routes and number of passes was investigated. The microstructure evolution of deformed and reheated Al (A356) was characterized by SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and optical microscopy. In addition, the relation between the induced strain with size and shape of particles has been studied.

Abstract: Melt Conditioned Direct Chill (MC-DC) casting is a new development for producing high-quality billets and slabs. In the MC-DC process, liquid metal is continuously fed into a MCAST (melt conditioning by advanced shear technology) machine, where the liquid metal is subjected to high shear rate and high degree of turbulence provided by a twin screw mechanism at temperatures either above or below the alloy liquidus, and the conditioned liquid metal is then fed continuously into a Direct Chill (DC) caster to produce billets or slabs. The MC-DC process is applicable to both Al- and Mg-alloys. In this paper we present our experimental investigations of the effects of processing parameters on the microstructural and compositional uniformity of 5xxx and 7xxx series Al-alloys. It has been confirmed by our experiments that the MC-DC process can produce billets and slabs with fine and uniform microstructure, uniform chemical compositions and much reduced cast defects, such as porosity and cracks.