Formation of globular microstructure in A380 aluminum alloy by cooling slope casting
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Date
2011
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Abstract
Thixoforming and related semi-solid processing (SSP) methods require thixotropic materials. One of the many SSP techniques is the cooling slope (CS) casting process, which is simple and has minimal equipment requirements, and which is able to produce feedstock materials for semisolid processing. When the feedstock is reheated to the semisolid temperature range, nondendritic, spheroidal solid particles in a liquid matrix suitable for thixoforming are obtained. In this study, equipment for the CS technique was first established, and then the effects of the pouring temperature and inclined slope angle on the microstructures of A380 aluminum alloy (ISOAlSi8Cu3Fe) were studied. Optimum parameters for thixoforming experiments were selected, and it was found that the microstructure produced by the inclined plate depended on its angle and the pouring temperature. © (2011) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.
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Keywords
Aluminum , Aluminum alloys , Cooling , Feedstocks , Microstructure , Casting process , Cooling slope casting , Cooling slopes , Equipment requirements , Feedstock materials , Globular microstructure , Globular microstructures , Inclined plate , Liquid matrix , Optimum parameters , Pouring temperatures , Semi-solid processing , Slope angles , Solid particles , Temperature range , Thixoforming , Casting