Solid State Phenomena Vols. 192-193

Abstract: Continuous strip metal matrix composite (MMC) casting of 0.3 mm diameter hard-drawn stainless steel (316L) wire in a quasi-eutectic SnPb (64Sn36Pb) matrix was performed by a two-roll melt drag processing (TRMDping) method, with the wire being dragged through a semisolid puddle with a fibre contact time of approximately 0.2 s. A slag weir placed at the nozzle contained two wire guide holes: one located near the upper roll, and the other located between the rolls. A successful continuous composite strip casting with good fibre alignment was achieved by inserting and embedding the wire into the matrix using the guide hole between the rolls. Degeneration of eutectic/dendrite structures led to the formation of globular structures. The occurrence and formation mechanisms of cracks, de-lamination and voids in the matrix were discussed. TRMDping is economically viable and has significant benefits over other MMC fabrication methods.

Abstract: Materials with good mechanical properties and low density are characteristic for lightweight constructions in automotive and aerospace application as well as in the building industry. For this reason, the manufacturing of composite and hybrid materials is in focus of academic and industrial research. Because of the complex and expensive manufacturing process, the application of composite and hybrid materials in many cases is confined to niche and custom-made products. Therefore, the Institute for Metal Forming Technology (IFU) is concerned with the development of new processes for the manufacturing of metal matrix composites and hybrid components by semi-solid forming. Fibre reinforced AlSi-alloys are produced by the application of laminates made of alternating metal matrix layers and carbon fibre fabrics. Hybrid components are manufactured by the integration of higher-strength materials in the semi-solid forming process of aluminium alloys. Here, the main challenge is the integration of the reinforcing components without damaging due to high thermal and mechanical loads that are affecting during the process. These research activities are not only interesting for the mechanical engineering, but also for the civil engineering as this paper will reveal.

Abstract: Hypo/hyper-eutectic Al-Si bi-metal composite parts were prepared by the strain-induced melt activated (SIMA) thixo-forging. The interfaces of the bi-metal composites were observed using OM, and SEM. The tensile strength and hardness of the matrix alloys and the bonding strength at the interface were assessed by tensile test and micro-indent test. Results show that the eutectic structure joined together on the interface under the pressure. However, there are some defects such as holes and impurities were found near the interface. The tensile test samples were broken in Al-20 wt. % Si matrix. The bonding strengths at the interfaces were higher than 80 MPa. Results show that the hardness gradually increasing from 55 HV in Al-7 wt. % Si alloy to 180 HV in Al-20 wt. % Si alloy, which demonstrate the composite interface transited smoothly. The composite interface has an average hardness of 80 HV.

Abstract: The mechanical properties of 206 alloys are among the highest of aluminum alloys. However, these alloys are usually prone to hot tearing. It is known that the addition of silicon can reduce the hot tearing propensity and improve fluidity. However, the commercial 206 alloys used in conventional casting processes limit the silicon concentration ≤0.05 wt% to obtain good mechanical properties. However, the semi-solid forming offers a unique opportunity to increase the silicon content to improve the castability without compromise on mechanical properties. In the present paper, the development of modified 206 alloy compositions to minimize hot tearing during semi-solid forming while maintaining competitive mechanical properties is reported. The effect of high silicon contents with varying copper levels on hot tearing sensitivity is studied. The mechanical properties of a high Si 206 alloy with lowest hot tearing sensitivity are evaluated. It is found that increasing the silicon content in 206 alloys is beneficial to reduce hot tearing. The high Si 206 variants produced by the SEED rheocating process not only reduce significantly the hot tearing sensitivity but also attain superior mechanical properties.

Abstract: High purity aluminium has been successfully rheocast using the CSIR-RCS system combined with high pressure die casting. Analysis of the as-cast microstructure by SEM and EBSD revealed the presence of in-grain substructures. These morphological features show that the overall growth mode of the globular grains during rheocasting is planar, but the presence of these features indicates that the solidification mode is cellular at some stages during the slurry production process. Cellular solidification is associated with unstable growth at the solid-liquid interface and is initiated and exacerbated by solute gradients between the melt and the newly formed solid. This high purity alloy exhibits the same cellular growth, indicating that even minor solute variations have an effect on the stability of the solid-liquid interface and, hence, the mode of solidification during semi-solid rheocasting.

Abstract: It is demonstrated experimentally that by using the mechanical rotational barrel processing system combined with high pressure die casting machine, the near-eutectic ADC12 alloy is possible to be rheo-processed. Microstructural characteristics of the semisolid slurry were investigated in different processing parameters. Microstructural evolution and solidification behavior of the semisolid slurry were discussed. The result shows that, the dendritic primary α-Al was sheared off by the vertical stress supplied by the rotational barrel. With a rotation speed of 30r/min and 40r/min, the semisolid slurry can achieve relatively high solid fraction. When the pouring temperature decreased from 620°C to 580°C, the morphology of the primary α-Al changed from spheroidal to rosette-like. Besides, the average grain size and solid fraction increased with the decreasing of pouring temperature. The solidification of the alloy melt during the rheo-diecasting process is composed of two distinct stages: the primary solidification and the secondary solidification. By using the rheo-diecasting process, the components with fine, spherical and uniformly distributed primary α-Al particles were successfully obtained. As the pouring temperature descended from 605°C to 585°C, the primary α-Al of the rheo-diecasting components had rounder morphology, larger average grain size and higher solid fraction.

Abstract: The strain-induced melt activation (SIMA) process is one form of the thixoforming for aluminum alloy. However, the non-uniform stress distribution restricts its application. In order to avoid this problem, a chip recycling strain-induced melt activation (CR-SIMA) process has been developed to prepare semi-solid billet. Microstructures of semi-solid ADC14 aluminum alloy billets heated to different temperatures and held for various times were investigated. The typical semi-solid microstructure with globular solid particles distributed in the liquid matrix is obtained in the temperature range of 560 and 565oC. The spheroidizing mechanism of ADC14 alloy prepared by the CR-SIMA process was studied. It was found that the severe deformation not only influences the solidification of spherical α-Al particles, but also affects the morphology of primary Si. The primary Si phases become tiny particles and distribute around the α-Al particles.

Abstract: The microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-17Si-2Fe-2Cu-1Ni (mass fraction, %) alloys with 0.4% or 0.8% Mn produced by semi-solid casting process were studied. The semi-solid slurry of the alloys was prepared by ultrasonic vibration (USV) process. With USV process, the average grain size of primary Si in the alloys could be refined to 21~24μm, whether with or without P modification. The P addition has no further refinement effect on the primary Si in the case of the combined use of USV with P addition. Without USV, the alloys contain a large amount of long needle-like β-Al5(Fe,Mn)Si phase and plate-like δ-Al4(Fe,Mn)Si2 phase. Besides, the alloy with 0.8% Mn contains a small amount of coarse dendritic α-Al15(Fe,Mn)3Si2 phase. With USV treatment and semi-solid casting process, the Fe-containing compounds in the alloys are refined and exist mainly as δ-Al4(Fe,Mn)Si2 particles with average grain size of about 18μm, and only a small amount of β-Al5(Fe,Mn)Si phase is remained. With USV treatment and without P modification, the ultimate tensile strengths (UTS) of the alloys containing 0.4% and 0.8%Mn produced by semi-solid process are 260MPa and 270MPa respectively at room temperature, and the UTS are 127MPa and 132MPa at 350°C.

Abstract: Attractive physical and mechanical properties of aluminum alloys make them very interesting for the automotive industry. The commercial way for manufacturing LM28 alloy is die-casting, but this process encounters several problems such as shrinkage and gas porosities. Their good mechanical properties and high resistance to wear are because of the presence of hard primary silicon particles distributed in the matrix. Therefore, the size and morphology of primary silicon and also the structure of α-Al particles in hypereutectic Al–Si alloys influence the mechanical properties of the alloys. In this research, a new process of manufacturing of this alloy has been developed using LM28 feedstock produced through cooling slope casting. The feedstocks produced via cooling slope casting had a partial globular structure that contained globules, rosettes and dendrites of α-Al. These feedstocks were thixoformed under three different pressures. The primary dendrites and rosettes changed to globular structure. The microstructure of thixoformed parts contained α-Al globules, small primary Si particles dispersed between these globules, and Al-Si eutectic phase. The mechanism of the formation of α-Al globules by this process was explained. Microstructures of as cast specimens, feedstocks produced via cooling slope, specimens that were heat treated in the semi-solid temperature and thixoformed specimens were studied with optical microscope and image analysis. The morphological changes during these processes were interpreted.

Abstract: This work involved an evaluation of a Al-4wt%Si-2.5wtCu alloy to be used as raw materials in the thixoforming process. The alloy was produced by direct casting under electromagnetic stirring to obtain ingots of 250 mm length and 30 mm diameter. The alloy was analyzed to determine their morphology and rheological behavior in the semi-solid range. The tests included characterization of the microstructural evolution by subjecting them to re-heating treatment in two conditions of solid fractions, 45% and 60%, for 0, 30, 90 and 210 s. A compression testing device designed specifically to evaluate semi-solid materials was used to determine the rheological behavior, and the tests were performed at the same heating rate and hold times to determine the apparent viscosity. The use of electromagnetic stirring to produce the raw material was effective in producing alloy with very small grain/primary particle sizes (80 up to 120 µm). Based on the morphological evolution in the semi-solid state, the alloy showed only minor variations in grain/primary particle size and surface factor (SF) as a function of the different globularization heat treatment times, suggesting that all these alloys are suitable for production. The Al-4.0wt%Si-2.5wt%Cu alloy with 45% solid fraction presented apparent viscosity about 1.5 x106 Pa.s.