Energy Dissipation and Apparent Viscosity of Semi-solid Metal during Rheological Processes PartⅡ:Apparent Viscosity

This study investigated the rheological properties of semi-solid metal. An analytical model of apparent viscosity was built up based on analysis of energy dissipation during rheological processes such as slurry preparing, delivering and model filling. The rheological properties of SSM （semi-solid metal） slurry was described by an analytical model in terms of microstructural parameters, which consist of effective solid fraction, particle size and shape, and flow parameters such as mean velocity, fluctuant velocity and relative velocity between liquid and solid phase. The model was verified in the experiment of A356 alloys with a coaxial double-bucket rheometer. And the maximum relative error between the theoretical value and measured one is less than 20%. The results of experiment and theoretical calculation also indicate that the microstructural parameters and flow parameters are two major factors that affect the apparent viscosity of semi-solid alloys, and fluctuant velocity and relative velocity between liquid and solid phase are the key factors to distinguish between steady and transient rheological properties.

Energy Dissipation and Apparent Viscosity of Semi-solid Metal during Rheological Processes PartⅠ: Energy Dissipation

The energy dissipation caused by the viscous force has great effects on the flow property of semi-solid metal during rheological processes such as slurry preparing, delivering and cavity filling. Experimental results in this paper indicate that the viscous friction between semi-solid metal and pipe wall, the collisions among the solid particles, and the liquid flow around particles are the three main types of energy dissipation. On the basis of the hydromechanics, the energy dissipation calculation model is built. It is demonstrated that the micro-structural parameters such as effective solid fraction, particle size and shape, and flow parameters such as the mean velocity, the fluctuant velocity of particles and the relative velocity between the fluid and solid phase, affect the energy dissipation of semi-solid metal.

Influence of surface liquid segregation on corrosion behavior of semi-solid metal high pressure die cast aluminium alloys

The corrosion behavior(in chloride medium) of the surface layer of SSM-HPDC plates of alloys 7075-T6 and 2024-T6 was compared with that of the wrought alloys 7075-T6 and 2024-T6.Potentiodynamic testing was performed in deaerated 3.5%NaCl solution.In separate tests,the open-circuit potential was monitored in aerated 3.5% NaCl for 30 min after immersion.The electrochemical tests show that there is no significant difference in the pitting potential of the wrought alloys and that of the Cu-enriched surfaces of the SSM-HPDC alloys.

Industrial development of gas induced semi-solid process

The gas induced semi-solid(GISS) is a rheocasting process that produces semi-solid slurry by applying fine gas bubble injection through a graphite diffuser.The process is developed to be used in the die casting industry.To apply the GISS process with a die casting process,a GISS maker unit is designed and attached to a conventional die casting machine with little modifications.The commercial parts are developed and produced by the GISS die casting process.The GISS die casting shows the feasibility to produce industrial parts with aluminum 7075 and A356 with lower porosity than liquid die casting.

Formation and Evolution of Non-dendritic Microstructures of Semisolid Alloys Prepared by Shearing/Cooling Roll Process

The shearing/cooling roll （SCR） process was adopted to prepare semi-solid A2017 alloy. The formation and evolution of non-dendritic microstructures in semi-solid A2017 alloy were studied. It is shown that the microstructures of semi-solid billets transform from coarse dendrites into fine equiaxed grains as the pouring temperature of molten alloy decreases o.r roll-shoe cavity height is reduced. From the inlet to the exit of roll-shoe cavity, microstructure of semi-solid slurry near the shoe surface is in the order of coarse dendrites, degenerated dendrites or equiaxed grains, but fine equiaxed grains are near the roll surface. Microstructural evolution of semi-solid slurry prepared by SCR process is that the molten alloy nucleates and grows into dendrite firstly on the roll and shoe＇s surface. Under the shearing and stirring given by the rotating roll, the dendrites crush off and disperse into the melt. Under the shearing and stirring on semi-solid slurry with high volume fraction of solid, the dendrite arms fracture and form equiaxed grain microstructures.

Preparation of semi-solid slurry containing fine and globular particles for wrought aluminum alloy 2024

The semi-solid slurry of wrought aluminum alloy 2024 was prepared by a well developed rheocasting process, low superheat pouring with shearing field(LSPSF). The appreciate combination of pouring temperature and rotation speed of barrel, can give rise to a transition of the growth morphology of primary α(Al) from coarse-dendritic to coarse-particle-like and further to fine-globular. The combined effects of both localized rapid cooling and vigorous mixing during the initial stage of solidification can enhance wall nucleation and nuclei survival, which leads to the formation of fine-globular primary α(Al). By using semi-solid slurry prepared by LSPSF, direct squeeze cast cup-shaped component with improved mechanical properties such as yield strength of 198 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 306 MPa and elongation of 10.4%, can be obtained.

Microstructure evolution of semi-solid 2024 alloy during two-step reheating process

A two-step reheating process was proposed and applied to perform reheating experiments on the semi-solid 2024 alloy billet. In this process, the semi-solid billet was firstly heated over liquidus temperature and then isothermally held at solid-liquid zone temperature. Microstructure evolution of the semi-solid billet during two-step reheating was studied by optical microscope and compared with that during isothermal reheating. The results show that the remelting rate of the semi-solid billet during two-step reheating is faster than that during isothermal reheating. Under the same reheating time, the grains of the semi-solid billet reheated by two-step reheating process are finer and rounder than those by isothermal reheating process. The present experimental results indicate that accelerating the formation of liquid phase during the two-step reheating process can restrain the coalescence of grains to a certain extent, and thus refine the grain size and promote the grain spheroidization.

Effect of original microstructures on microstructural evolution of A2017 semi-solid alloy billets during reheating

The microstructural evolution of the A2017 semi-solid alloy billets provided with rheocasting and extruding/extending forming by shearing-cooling-rolling(SCR) technology during reheating in semi-solid state was investigated. The microstructural differences and their generation causes for both billets were also analyzed. The results show that during reheating, the grains of rheocasting billets grow up and spheroidize gradually with the prolongation of isothermal holding time, the eutectic liquid phase at low melting point forms mainly among the grains. However, the grains of the extruding/extending forming billets grow up abnormally through grain coalescence in the initial stage of the reheating, the entrapment of large amount of liquid within grains occurs, and the grain sizes in the reheating billets are coarse and inhomogeneous. Compared with extruding/extending forming billets, rheocasting billets have smaller and uniform grains in reheating microstructure and can rapidly form liquid phase among grains. Therefore, rheocasting billets are more suitable for the semi-solid forming than the extruding/extending forming billets.

Effects of processing parameters on microstructure of semi-solid magnesium alloy

In this paper, the effects of pouring temperature of magnesium melt, preheating temperature of the barrel of the screw mixer, and shear rate on the solidified microstructures of semi-solid slurry were investigated by a mechanical stirring semi-solid process. The appropriate processing parameters of slurry preparation were obtained, and the mold filling ability of semi-solid slurry for thin-walled casting was examined. Results indicate that the solid volume fraction of non-dendritic microstructure increases with a decrease in pouring temperature of magnesium melt and the barrel preheating temperature of the screw mixer. Also the grain size of primary α-phase is reduced. Furthermore, the solid volume fraction of semi-solid nondendritic structure decreases with an increase of shear rate. The fine and round granular microstructure with 30～50 μm in size of semi-solid AZ91D magnesium alloy was presented. Finally, a 1.0 mm thin-walled casting with a clear contour and good soundness was successfully made by semi-solid rheo-diecasting.

Continuous Extruding Extending Forming of Semi-solid A2017 Alloy

Continuous extruding/ extending formiug process for A2017 alloy in semi-solid state was proposed through installing extending die at the outlet of shearing- cooling- rolling （SCR） machine. A series of experiments to produce fiat bar of A2017 alloy were carried oat. The forming process, metal flow behavior in die and microstructure and mechanical property of prodacts were investigated. It is shown that if the pouring temperature of melt was higher, the die was filled with semi-solid slurry with low solid fraction and periodical cracks would occur on the product surface ; If its pouring temperature was lower or the preheating temperature of die was lower, semisolid slurry would solidify rapidly and block the die after entering the cavity. The analysis of mass flow trace shows that the semi-solid slurry move forward layer by layer and fills the die extending cavity in radiation manner and the velocity of mass flow in the central area of extending cavity and exit of mould is the maximum, and then decreases gradually from the center to both sides of die wall. By inereasiug the die extending angle, the velocity of mass flow becomes more homogeneous. Under rational process control and die design, the A2017 fiat bar with transverse section of 10 × 50 mm and with good surface and fine equiaxed grains can be obtained by continuous extruding/extending forming process. The product＇s tensile strength and elongation are 420.5 MPa and 14.2% , respectively.

Al-Mg-Si合金半固态触变成形研究

以水泵盖为目标零件,在自行建立的半固态触变成形试验线上使用A357合金和新开发的半固态专用铝合金Al-6Si-2Mg进行了半固态触变压铸试验研究。对这两种合金在半固态坯料制备、二次加热及半固态压铸中的显微组织及工艺性进行了比较。结果表明,Al-6Si-2Mg合金在触变成形过程中均表现出更好的工艺可控性,其半固态压铸件热处理后的性能为σb=335MPa,σs=305MPa,δ5=3%,强度高于A357,伸长率与铸态A357合金相当。试验最终获得了充型完好、性能优异、组织均匀的半固态压铸件。

旋转磁场对ZA-27合金组织的影响

采用电磁搅拌法，研究在旋转磁场作用下对ＺＡ－２７合金组织的影响，并对流变组织的形成机理作了初步的探讨。还研究了改变工艺条件（如交替改变磁场旋转方向和加入微量合金元素）对流变组织的影响。

一种具有球晶组织的半固态Zn-Al合金钎料

通过熔炼、浇注以及等温热处理的方法制备了具有球晶组织的Zn-Al合金,并采用重熔实验、等温压缩实验和振动辅助半固态钎焊实验研究了半固态Zn-Al合金的固相率与温度的关系、压缩变形行为以及作为钎料的可钎焊性。结果表明:半固态Zn-Al合金在压缩变形时,具有较强的抗变形能力;作为钎料,在钎焊过程中其固相率能控制在(64±5)%范围内,所得钎焊接头中仅在钎缝边缘处界面上有少许氧化膜残留,而其他区域界面上的氧化膜都被彻底去除。

金属半固态浆料非枝晶微观组织形成机制与表征

半固态技术自20世纪70年代由麻省理工学院开发以来,因其独特的优势而在全球范围内得到了广泛的研究。非枝晶组织的形成机理是半固态成形技术的基石,它决定了在特定条件下应采用哪些工艺来获得优质的半固态组织,对开发新工艺具有重要的指导作用。经过近半个世纪的发展,半固态浆料制备过程中非枝晶结构的形成机理已经发展出许多不同的观点。由此衍生了丰富的半固态浆料制备技术,大大促进了半固态领域的发展。为了进一步理解凝固过程中球晶的形成机制,对各种非枝晶组织的形成机制进行了梳理,基于制备原理将半固态制浆技术分为搅拌制备技术类和低过热度制备技术类,并对常见的几种技术的原理和应用进行了总结。半固态产品的性能在很大程度上取决于其微观组织结构,但半固态形态复杂,传统的二维表征手段对材料内部空间结构的理解可能存在误差。对半固态浆料的二维微观组织和三维显微组织表征技术进行总结分析,为理解金属半固态浆料的微观结构演变和微观组织与性能之间的关系提供了理论基础。

旋转磁场对ZA-27合金组织的影响

采用电磁搅拌法 ,研究在旋转磁场作用下对ZA 2 7合金组织的影响 ,并对流变组织的形成机理作了初步的探讨。还研究了改变工艺条件 (如交替改变磁场旋转方向和加入微量合金元素 )

等温热处理对AM60-1Si合金半固态组织的影响

采用半固态等温处理法研究保温温度和保温时间对AM60-1Si合金半固态组织的影响规律。研究结果表明:AM60-1Si合金的半固态组织经历了近球状晶粒的形成、晶粒的球化和球晶的长大过程;随着保温温度的增加和保温时间的延长,初生α-Mg固相颗粒的尺寸先减小、后增大;605℃时保温45 min可获得晶粒细小、分布均匀且球状的半固态组织;在等温处理的过程中,汉字状的Mg_2Si相变为近球状。

半固态加工Al-Cu合金的微观组织

通过对较高Cu含量的铝合金微观组织的观察,在研究半固态加工的Al-10%Cu、Al-20%Cu和Al-40%Cu合金中初生α-Al枝晶、共晶晶粒和初生θ相的形貌、尺寸的变化规律之后。对半固态加工Al-Cu合金的微观组织形成进行了分析,指出了其形成机理。

半固态加工的高铜Al-Cu合金性能研究

通过对半固态加工的Al-Cu合金力学性能测试,仔细研究了半固态加工的Al-20%Cu和Al-40%Cu合金的力学性能,得出半固态加工Al-Cu合金的抗拉强度,延伸率和断面收缩率均得到显著提高,可以大量运用在各个领域。同时得出半固态挤压铸造Al-Cu合金的硬度值总体值较高,耐磨性能得到显著提高,在工程运用上硬度和耐磨性能没有问题。

Microstructure and properties of rheo-diecast Al-20Si-2Cu-1Ni-0.4Mg alloy with direct ultrasonic vibration process

The microstructure and properties of Al-20Si-2Cu-1Ni-0.4Mg alloy fabricated with semi-solid rheo-diecasting process were studied.A newly developed direct ultrasonic vibration process(DUV process) was used in the preparation of the semi-solid slurry of this alloy.The results show that the primary Si particles in this alloy is about 20 μm in size under DUV for 90 s in the semi-solid temperature range,compared to about 30 μm in the alloy without DUV.It is discovered that the primary Si particles distribute more homogeneously and have regular shape,but have lower volume fraction after DUV.The tensile strength at room temperature is about 310 MPa,and the tensile strength and elongation of the semi-solid die castings are increased by 34% and 45%,respectively,compared with the traditional liquid die castings.The high-temperature tensile strength at 300 ℃ of this high Si aluminum alloy reaches 167 MPa,and the coefficient of thermal expansion is 17.37×10-6/℃ between 25 and 300 ℃.This indicates that this high Si content Al-Si alloy produced with the DUV process is suitable to be used in the manufacture of pistons or other heat-resistant parts.

Characterization of surface liquid segregation in SSM-HPDC aluminium alloys 7075,2024,6082 and A201

The surface liquid segregation(SLS) phenomenon in semi-solid metal-high pressure die casting(SSM-HPDC) plates of 7075,2024,6082 and A201 was investigated by different techniques.Depth profiles were determined by firstly measuring the chemical composition of the surface of the plates using a Thermo Quantris optical emission spectrometer(OES).Material was then removed by a grinding process followed by measurement of the amount of material removed and chemical analysis.Chemical profiles of the main alloying elements were plotted for the cross-section of the plates in the as-cast and T6(after solution treatment) temper conditions.Vickers hardness profiles from the surface to the centre of the plates were determined.Metallographic samples of cross-sections of the castings were prepared and evaluated using a scanning electron microscope.The results show that surface liquid segregation in SSM-HPDC alloys causes significant differences in properties between the surface and the bulk of these castings in both the F and T6 temper conditions.