Effect of forming conditions on mechanical properties of rheoformed thin plates with microchannels using electromagnetic stirring

Abstract

Rheoforming is a near net-shape manufacturing technology for fabricating components from light alloys in their semisolid states with improved mechanical properties. In this work, a feasibility study on the fabrication of Silafont 36 aluminum thin plates via rheoforming was conducted. The thin plates were fabricated under different experimental conditions, such as different solid fractions and punch pressures. Electromagnetic stirring was used to prepare a semisolid slurry of Silafont 36 aluminum alloy. Subsequently, the slurry was transferred to die sleeve and injected into the die cavity of the thin plate. The thin plates were successfully fabricated under the optimal conditions of 50% solid fraction and a rheoforming pressure of 130 MPa.