To obtain the semi-solid slurry with uniform and fine structure morphology that satisfies the requirement of rheocasting process, a new process for preparing semi-solid Al alloy slurry was developed, in which local chilling was combined with low superheat pouring and slight electromagnetic stirring (LSPSEMS). The morphology and the size of primary α-Al in the A356 alloy slurry prepared with the new process, i.e., LSPSEMS with local chilling, were investigated using MIAPS image analyzing software, and the grain refinement mechanism was discussed. The results indicate that the semi-solid primary phase consists of particle-like or globular-like α-Al, and the morphology and grain size of primary α-Al in the slurry can be markedly improved by the new process. The fine primary α-Al distributes uniformly in the slurry, which satisfies the requirement of rheocasting. Compared with the alloy prepared by LSPSEMS, the average equal-area-circle grain diameter of primary α-Al in semi-solid A356 alloy ingot prepared by the new process is decreased from 85.6 μm to 68.8 μm at the central area, 112.6 μm to 77.6 μm at the transition area and is 84.7 μm in the edge area, respectively. The corresponding shape factor of primary α-Al is increased from 0.78 to 0.83, 0.54 to 0.77 and 0.28 to 0.59, respectively. In addition, the pouring temperature could be suitably raised from 620-630 ℃ of the traditional process to 650 ℃ using this technique, which is convenient for practical operation. The mechanism of grain refinement, in the new process, is that the local chilling quickens up the temperature decrease in the center of the melt. The nuclei could not grow up in a short time so the finer grains are formed in the melt.
Semi-solid slurry of A356 alloy was prepared by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring,and the fractal characteristics of morphology in semi-solid primary phase was researched.The fractal dimensions of primary phase morphology in the semi-solid A356 alloy were calculated by the program written to calculate the fractal dimensions of box-counting in the image of solid phase morphology in semi-solid metal slurry.The results indicated that the morphology of primary phase in semi-solid A356 prepared by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring is characterized by fractal dimension,and the primary phase morphology obtained by the different processing parameters has different fractal dimensions.The morphology of primary phase at the different position of ingot has different fractal dimensions,which reflected the effect of solidified conditions at different positions in the same ingot on the morphology of semi-solid primary phase.Solidification of semi-solid alloy is a course of change in fractal dimension.
Semi-solid Al7Si0.3Mg alloy slurry, which is grain-refined by yttrium, is manufactured by low temperature pouring. The effects of grain-refined by yttrium on the morphology and the grain size of the primary α-Al in semi-solid Al7Si0.3Mg alloy are researched. The results indicate that semi-solid Al7Si0.3Mg alloy with particle-like and rosette-like primary α-Al can be prepared by low temperature pouring from liquid Al7Si0.3Mg alloy grain-refined by yttrium. The grain size and particle morphology of primary α-Al in Al7Si0.3Mg alloy are markedly improved by 0.5 wt pct Y. The refining mechanism of Y on the morphology and the grain size of the primary α-Al in semi-solid Al7Si0.3Mg alloy are delved.
The fractal dimensions of primary phase morphology in semi-solid A356 alloy prepared by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring were calculated,and the effect of pouring temperature on fractal dimension of primary phase morphology in semi-solid A356 alloy was researched.The results indicate that it is feasible to prepare semisolid A356 alloy slurry by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring,and there is an important effect of pouring temperature on the morphology and the grain size of the primary phase in semi-solid A356 alloy,in which the reduction of pouring temperature can obviously improve grain size and shape factor of primary phase in semi-solid A356 alloy under the condition of a certain stirring power.The primary phase morphology of semi-solid A356 alloy prepared by low superheat pouring and slightly electromagnetic stirring can be characterized by fractal dimension,and the primary phase morphology obtained by the different processing parameters has the different fractal dimensions.Solidification of semi-solid alloy is a course of change in fractal dimension.
The effects of mixed rare earth oxides and CaCO3 on the microstructure of an in-situ Mg2Si/Al-Si hypereutectic alloy composite were investigated by optical microscope,scanning electron microscope,and energy dispersive spectrum analysis. The results showed that the morphol-ogy of the primary Mg2Si phase particles changed from irregular or crosses to polygonal shape,their sizes decreased from 75 μm to about 25 μm,and the compound of both the oxide and CaCO3 was better than either the single mixed rare earth oxides or CaCO3.
The semi-solid slurry of an A356 Al alloy, which was grain-fined by yttrium, was manufactured by low temperature pouring. The effects of grain-refining on the morphology and the grain size of the primary α phase in the semi-solid A356 Al alloy were researched. The results indicate that the semi-solid A356 Al alloy with particle-like and rosette-like primary α-Al can be prepared by low temperature pouring from a liquid grain-refined A356 alloy. The grain size and particle morphology of primary α-Al in the A356 Al alloy are markedly improved by the addition of 0.5 wt.% Y. The fining mechanism of Y on the morphology and grain size of the primary α-Al in the semi-solid A356 Al alloy was delved.
The effects of slight electromagnetic stirring on morphology of primary phase in semisolid A356 prepared by low superheat pouring and slight electromagnetic stirring were researched,and some characteristic parameters characterized the morphology and grain size of the primary phase were calculated.The results indicate that the stirring power has an important effect on the morphology and the grain size.The characteristics of the morphology could be characterized by the fractal dimensions and the shape factors.The fractal dimension and the shape factor change when the morphology changes with processing conditions.Both increase with the increase of the stirring power,but the fractal dimension is still affected by the grain size.The increase of stirring power could obviously improve the grain size,fractal dimension and shape factor of the primary phase.
