Synchronously Improving the Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Properties of Al–Si–Fe–Mg–Cu–Zn Alloy Die Castings Through Ultrasonic-Assisted Rheoforming

An ultrasonic vibration-assisted air-cooled stirring rod process(ACSR+UV)was used to efficiently prepare a large-volume semisolid slurry with a mass of more than 40 kg.A low-cost Al–Si–Fe–Mg–Cu–Zn die-casted alloy with high thermal conductivity,high plasticity and medium strength was developed.The alloy was used to manufacture large,thin-walled parts for 5 G base stations by using the ACSR+UV rheological die-casting(ACSR+UV R-DC)process.Investigations were performed on the microstructure,porosity,mechanical properties,fracture behaviour and thermal conductivity of the ACSR+UV R-DC alloy,which was then compared to traditionally die-casted(T-DC)and ACSR R-DC alloys.The mechanisms for the microstructural refinement and enhancement of the mechanical and thermal conductivity performances of the ACSR+UV R-DC alloy were also analysed.The results showed that the ACSR+UV process increased the nucleation rate of the melt due to the increase in the nucleation area and the generation of cavitation bubbles.A radial-and an axial-forced convection was also generated inside the melt under the combined effects of acoustic flow and mechanical stirring,thereby homogenising the melt composition field and the temperature field.Therefore,the ACSR+UV R-DC process not only refined the primaryα-Al(α_(1)-Al),the eutectic silicon and the secondaryα-Al(α_(2)-Al),but also greatly improved the morphology and the distribution of the β-Al5FeSi phase.The mechanical properties of the ACSR+UV R-DC alloy were higher than those of the T-DC and the ACSR R-DC alloys.Compared to the T-DC alloy,the ultimate tensile strength,elongation and yield strength of the ACSR+UV R-DC alloy were increased by 34%,122%and 19%,respectively.This was because the ACSR+UV R-DC technique gave the alloy the characteristics of high density,fine sphericalα1-Al grain and a fine and uniform β-phase,which improved the fracture behaviour of the alloy.The thermal conductivity of the ACSR+UV R-DC alloy was 184 W/(m K),which was 10.2%and 3.4%higher than that of T-DC and ACSR R-DC alloys,respectively.This was because the refined eutectic silicon and β phases in the ACSR+UV R-DC alloy facilitated an easier electron flow through the eutectic region,and the decrease in porosity increased the effective area of heat conduction.