Experimental Study on the Effect of Mechanical Stirring in Semisolid Processing of Aluminum Alloys at Thixo-Temperatures

Abstract

Semisolid metal processing (SSMP) is a relatively new technology for production of near net shaped components. This process is carried out at a temperature range between its liquidus and solidus temperature. At thixo-temperatures, the metal exists as a mixture of solid and liquid phases in the slurry form. Thixotropy is a time-dependent shear thinning property where the metal is thick at static conditions but will flow when subjected to shear stress. The present research work focuses to identify the process parameters in SSMP. A mechanical stirring process was employed to obtain the desired microstructure required for SSMP. Process parameters such as stirring time and stirring speed were considered. The effect of addition of grain refiner to the molten alloy on the microstructure was also studied.