Preparation and mechanical properties of SiC/2024 composite by semisolid casting

A SiC/2024 composite was made by semisolid casting. The wetting between SiC and Al matrix is improved by treating SiC particles at a high temperature, coating K2ZrF6, and adding Mg to the Al melt. An effective way to remove the gas around SiC particles was also found. Microstructures were observed under optical microscope (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that SiC particles and Al matrix are well bonded and no gaps or cavities around the particles are observed. SiC particles distribute homogeneously in the Al matrix. The existence of SiC particles results in the increase of wear resistance and strength.

Development of Deformation-Semisolid-Casting (D-SSC) Process and Applications to Some Aluminum Alloys

Recent advances in the semisolid casting technologies are introduced for aluminum alloys.The advantages of the rheocast and thixocast methods to fabricate alloys with refined spheroidizedα-Al particles are described. The deformation-semisolid-casting （D-SSC） process developed by the author＇s group is presented.The D-SSC process is extremely effective to produce microstructures of refined intermetallic compound particles as well as the spheroidizedα-Al particles in the Al-Si based alloys containing highly concentrated Fe.In the D-SSC processed Al-Si-Cu alloy high elongation of about 20% was achieved even contained concentrated impurity of Fe.The D-SSC process is also useful to produce wrought aluminum alloys with microstructures of refinedα-Al particles.

Rheologic behaviors of A356 aluminum alloy billet produced by semisolid continuous casting process

The experiments for rheologic behaviors of semisolid continuous casting billets of A356 alloy in semisolid state had been carried out with a multifunctional rheometer. The results show that the deformation rate increases with loading time, the maximum strain reaches to 120％ (which is one time larger than that of traditional mold casting billet) and the strain can be rapidly eliminated to 10％ after unloading. Moreover, there is a critic stress for billet deformation even in semisolid state, which is named as critic shear stress. This stress increases with the decreasing of heating time. The theologic behaviors can be expressed by five elements mechanical model (H_2- [N_1|H_2]-[N_2|S]) and can be modified with the increasing of heating time.

Numerical simulation of semisolid continuous casting process

A general mathematical model and boundary condition applicable to momentum and heat transfer in the semisolid continuous casting(SCC) process was established. Using the model, the numerical simulation of the momentum and heat transfer of molten metal was carried out in the SCC system. The obtained results fit well with the measured ones. Moreover, using the numerical simulating software, the effect of various factors on breakout and breakage was explored. The obtained results show that heat flow density of copper mold and the withdrawal beginning time are two major influencing factors. The larger the heat flow density of copper mold, or the shorter the withdrawal beginning time, the more stable the semisolid continuous casting process. [

High Speed Twin Roll Casting of Aluminum Alloy Strips

The twin roll caster for aluminum alloys has many a dv antages. For example, rapid solidification, low equipment cost, and low running cost, etc. However, the twin roll caster has some disadvantages. They are slow c asting speed and limitation of alloys. In the conventional twin roll caster, the casting speed is slower than 10 m/min. Aluminum alloys, which freezing range is wide, can not be cast. In the present study, break through of these problems wa s tried, and a new type twin roll caster was devised. A vertical type twin roll caster equipped with a nozzle was devised in order to cast aluminum strips at the speeds higher than 60 m/min. Characteristic features of this caster were vertical type, use of copper rolls, low separating force (n o operation of rolling), no use of lubricant, and equipment of the nozzle. In th e high speed roll casting, feed of molten metal of the vertical type twin roll c aster was easier than that of the conventional horizontal type caster. The use o f the copper rolls made cooling rate higher. The low separating force and the us e of the copper rolls prevented sticking of the strip to the roll. The lubricant was not needed, as the sticking of the strip to the roll did not occur. No use of the lubricant was useful to increase the cooling rate and casting speed of th e strip. The nozzle was used in order to improve contact condition (heat transfe r) between the melt and the rolls by hydrostatic pressure. In the twin roll cast er of the present study, many devices were done to improve the cooling condition of the strip in order to increase the casting speed. It was said that the roll casting of A5182 was very difficult, as freezing zone of A5182 was very wide. However, A5182 strip could be cast at high speeds up to 120 m/min using the twin roll caster of the present study. The microstructure of the strip cast using the conventional type twin roll caster is columnar structu re. The microstructure of the strip cast using the twin roll caster of the prese nt study was not columnar but equiaxed structure. It is said that mechanical pro perties of the strip cast using the twin roll caster is cheaper than that of the strip made from DC casting. However, the mechanical properties of the strip cas t using the twin roll caster in the present study were almost same as the proper ties of the strip made from DC casting. The thickness of the strip cast using th e twin roll caster of the present study was from 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm, and this thic kness was thinner than that of the strip cast using the conventional twin roll c aster. Semisolid roll casting was tried in order to increase the roll speed more and mo re. The twin roll caster of the present study was equipped with a cooling slope in order to make semisolid slurry. The cooling slope was the simplest process to make the semisolid slurry. Solid rate of the semisolid slurry was about 10%. Th e casting speed increased up to 180 m/min by the effect of semisolid casting. Me chanical properties were improved by the semisolid casting, too.

Effect of partial remelting time on the initial carbide in semisolid structure of hypereutectic high Cr cast iron

In order to review the effect of partial remelting time on the morphology of initial carbides, semisolid ingots of hypereutectic high Cr17 cast iron were remelted at 1270℃ for four different times, and the changing characteristics of shape factor and the equivalent diameter of initial carbides were analyzed quantitatively using a Leica image analyzer. The results indicate that firstly, the evolution process of the initial carbides' morphology undergoes melting, spheroidization and refining during the partial remelting; secondly, the solute diffusion and interface tension take dominant roles at the primary and the middle-final stages respectively in the process of initial carbide evolution; finally, a perfect structure can be obtained by remelting semisolid ingots at 1270℃ for 15 min.

Improvement in mechanical properties of hypereutectic Al-Si-Cu alloys through sonosolidified slurry

For the wider applications,it is necessary to improve the ductility as well as the strength and wear-resistance of hypereutectic AlSi-Cu alloys,which are typical light-weight wear-resistant materials.An increase in the amounts of primary silicon particles causes the modified wear-resistance of hypereutectic Al-Si-Cu alloys,but leads to the poor strength and ductility.It is known that dual phase steels composed of hetero-structure have succeeded in bringing contradictory mechanical properties of high strength and ductility concurrently.In order to apply the idea of hetero-structure to hypereutectic Al-Si-Cu alloys for the achievement of high strength and ductility along with wear resistance,ultrasonic irradiation of the molten metal during the solidification,which is called sono-solidification,was carried out from its molten state to just above the eutectic temperature.The sono-solidified Al-17Si-4Cu alloy is composed of hetero-structure,which are,hard primary silicon particles,soft non-equilibrium a-Al phase and the eutectic region.Rheo-casting was performed at just above the eutectic temperature with sono-solidified slurry to shape a disk specimen.After the rheo-casting with modified sonosolidified slurry held for 45 s at 570 oC,the quantitative optical microscope observation exhibits that the microstructure is composed of 18area%of hard primary silicon particles and 57area%of soft a-Al phase.In contrast,there exist only 5 area%of primary silicon particles and no a-Al phase in rheo-cast specimen with normally solidified slurry.Hence the tensile tests of T6 treated rheo-cast specimens with modified sono-solidified slurry exhibit improved strength and 5%of elongation,regardless of having more than 3 times higher amounts of primary silicon particles compared to that of rheo-cast specimen with normally solidified slurry.

Impact of ultrasonic power on liquid fraction,microstructure and physical characteristics of A356 alloy molded through cooling slope

This study involves A356 alloy molded through ultrasonically vibrated cooling slope.The slope alongside ultrasonic power enables indispensable shear for engendering slurry from which the semisolid cast/heat treated billets got produced.An examination demonstrates ultrasonically vibrated cooling slope influencing the liquid fraction/microstructure/physical characteristics of stated billets.The investigation encompasses five diverse ultrasonic powers(0,75,150,200,250 W).The ultrasonic power of 150 W delivers finest/rounded microstructure with enhanced physical characteristics.Microstructural modifications reason physical transformations because of grain refinement and grain boundary/Hall-Petch strengthening.A smaller grain size reasons a higher strength/shape factor and an increased homogeneity reasons a higher ductility.Microstructural characteristics get improved by reheating.It is owing to coalescence throughout temperature homogenization.The physical characteristics is improved by reheating because of a reduced porosity and enhanced dissolution besides augmented homogeneity.A direct comparison remains impossible owing to unavailability of researches on ultrasonically vibrated cooling slope.

Manufacturing of cast A356 matrix composite reinforced with nano- to micrometer-sized SiC particles

In this study, large micron-sized Si C particles were fragmented via ball-milling process in the presence of iron and nickel powders, separately, to fabricate composite powders of Fe–Si C and Ni–Si C. Continuous fracturing of brittle Si C powders leads to the formation of multi-modalsized Si C powders with size of from 50 nm to slightly higher than 10 lm after 36-h ball milling. The milled powders were then incorporated into the semisolid melt of A356 aluminum alloy to ease the incorporation of fine Si C particles by using iron and nickel as their carrier agents.The final as-cast composites were then extruded at 500 °C with a reduction ratio of 9:1. Lower-sized composite powders with slight agglomeration are obtained for the36-h milled Ni–Si C mixture compared to that of Fe–Si C powders, leading to incorporation of Si C particles into the melt with a lower size and suitable distribution for the Ni–Si C mixture. It is found that lower-sized composite particles could release the fine Si C particles into the melt more easily, while large agglomerated composite particles almost remain in its initial form, resulting in sites of stress concentration and low-strength aluminum matrix composites. Ultimate tensile strength(UTS) and yield strength(YS) values of 243 and 135 MPa, respectively, are obtained for the aluminum matrix composite in which nickel acts as the carrier of fine ceramic particles.