The effects of parameters of a novel internal cooling thermal equilibrium (ICTE) process on microstructure evolution in semi-solid A356 aluminium alloys were investigated. The results indicated that a low predetermined temperature (TP), a higher mechanical stirring intensity for the thermal equilibrium body (TEB) and a reduced melt mass contributed to obtaining fine grained semi-solid structures. The cooling effect of TEB combined with dendritic remelting fractures of solidified shells formed on surface of TEB at room temperature promoted massive nucleation in alloy melt and contributed to obtaining numerous fine primary solid phases. The ICTE process, which regulated stirring time of TEB, obtained numerous spherical grains and simplified the operational process.
RenSWangFSunJGating system design based on numerical simulation and production experiment verification of aluminum alloy bracket fabricated by semi-solid rheo-Die casting process. Int J Metalcast. 2021;16(2):878–893.
2.
LuoMLiDMidsonSPModel for predicting radial temperature distribution of semi-solid slug produced by Swirled Enthalpy Equilibration Device (SEED) process J Mater Process Technol. 2019;273:116236.
3.
RagabKABouazaraMBouaichaAMicrostructural and mechanical features of aluminium semi-solid alloys made by rheocasting technique. Mater Sci Technol. 2016;33(6):646–655.
4.
Seiyed BeigiMTNiroumandB.Liquid segregation behaviour of a semi-solid squeeze cast A356 aluminium cup-shaped part. Mater Sci Technol. 2017;33(18):2203–2211.
5.
WinklhoferJ.Semi-Solid casting of aluminium from an industrial point of view. Solid State Phenom.2019;285:24–30.
6.
HuXGZhuQMidsonSPBlistering in semi-solid die casting of aluminium alloys and its avoidance. Acta Mater2017;124:446–455.
7.
JarforsAEWZhengJCChenLRecent advances in commercial application of the rheometal process in China and Europe. Solid State Phenom.2019;285:405–410.
8.
QiM-fKangY-lZhuG-m.Microstructure and properties of rheo-HPDC Al-8Si alloy prepared by air-cooled stirring rod process. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China. 2017;27(9):1939–1946.
9.
QiMFKangYLZhuGMA new rheo-HPDC process with air-cooled stirring rod device for wireless base station shells of Al-8Si alloy. Solid State Phenom.2016;256:303–308.
10.
DongXZhuXJiS.Effect of super vacuum assisted high pressure die casting on the repeatability of mechanical properties of Al-Si-Mg-Mn die-cast alloys. J Mater Process Technol. 2019;266:105–113.
11.
HaghayeghiR.Effect of external forces on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of high pressure die cast AA5754 alloy. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China. 2017;27(2):282–288.
12.
QiMXuYLiJMicrostructure refinement and corrosion resistance improvement mechanisms of a novel Al-Si-Fe-Mg-Cu-Zn alloy prepared by ultrasonic vibration -assisted rheological die-casting process Corros Sci2021;180:109180.
13.
SpencerDBMehrabianRFlemingsMC.Rheological behavior of Sn-15 pct Pb in the crystallization range. Metall Mater Trans B. 1972;3(7):1925–1932.
14.
YurkoJAMartinezRAFlemingsMC.The use of semi-solid rheocasting for aluminum automotive castings SAE Trans. 2003;112:119–123.
15.
FlemingsMC.Behavior of metal alloys in the semisolid state. Metall Trans A. 1991;22(5):957–981.
16.
KarehKMLeePDAtwoodRCRevealing the micromechanisms behind semi-solid metal deformation with time-resolved X-ray tomography. Nat Commun. 2014;5(1):4464.
17.
PayandehMJarforsAEWWessenM.Effect of superheat on melting rate of EEM of Al alloys during stirring using the RheoMetal process. Solid State Phenom2012;192-193:392–397.
18.
QiMKangYLiJSynchronously improving the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of Al–Si–Fe–Mg–Cu–Zn alloy Die castings through ultrasonic-assisted rheoforming. Acta Metall Sin. 2021;34(10):1331–1344.
19.
YangXYuAZhengBMicrostructure evolution of a semisolid magnesium alloy slurry obtained via an internal rapid cooling stirring process (IRCSP). Metall Mater Trans B. 2020;51(6):2895–2904.
20.
LiangDLiangZZhaiQNucleation and grain formation of pure Al under pulsed magneto-oscillation treatment. Mater Lett. 2014;130:48–50.
21.
RäbigerDZhangYGalindoVThe relevance of melt convection to grain refinement in Al–Si alloys solidified under the impact of electric currents. Acta Mater2014;79:327–338.
22.
LiYZhouRLiLMicrostructure and properties of semi-solid ZCuSn10P1 Alloy processed with an enclosed cooling slope channel Metals (Basel). 2018;8(4):275.
23.
LiN-yMaoW-mGengX-x.Preparation of semi-solid 6061 aluminum alloy slurry by serpentine channel pouring. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China. 2022;32(3):739–749.
24.
LiuZMaoWWanTStudy on semi-solid A380 aluminum alloy slurry prepared by water-cooling serpentine channel and Its rheo-diecasting. Met Mater Int. 2020;27(7):2067–2077.
25.
DasPDuttaP.Three-dimensional phase field simulation of spheroidal grain formation during semi processing of Al-7Si-0.3Mg alloy Comput Mater Sci. 2020;184:109856.
26.
CampbellJ.The consolidation of metals: the origin of bifilms. J Mater Sci. 2015;51(1):96–106.
27.
LiuJWangQQiY.Atomistic simulation of the formation and fracture of oxide bifilms in cast aluminum. Acta Mater2019;164:673–682.
28.
SongHZhangLShenHMorphology and fracture of oxide bifilm defects in nickel-aluminium bronze. J Mater Res Technol. 2021;10:926–934.
ChungI-GBolouriAKangC-g.A study on semisolid processing of A356 aluminum alloy through vacuum-assisted electromagnetic stirring. Int J Adv Manuf Technol. 2011;58(1-4):237–245.
31.
ZhangS-GGuoH-MXieD-SExperiments and LBM simulations of grain refining in Al-Zn alloys by solid–liquid mixing. Metall Mater Trans A. 2018;49(11):5458–5468.
32.
GranathOWessénMCaoH.Determining effect of slurry process parameters on semisolid A356 alloy microstructures produced by RheoMetal process. Int J Cast Met Res. 2013;21(5):349–356.
33.
LiottiELuiAVincentRA synchrotron X-ray radiography study of dendrite fragmentation induced by a pulsed electromagnetic field in an Al–15Cu alloy. Acta Mater2014;70:228–239.
34.
MartinezRAFlemingsMC.Evolution of particle morphology in semisolid processing. Metall Mater Trans A. 2005;36(8):2205–2210.
