Solid fraction effect on solidification of semisolid forging A380 alloy

Abstract

In recent years, it has been shown that high pressurized solidification has been impeding cooling rate measurement in semisolid forging of aluminum alloys. This has restricted the establishment of solidification behavior, especially at the semisolid interface. In this paper, the solid fraction effect on semisolid forging of A380 aluminum alloy was investigated. Computer-aided cooling curve analysis, microscopic evaluation, and Archimedes density measurement were used to analyze the results. It was found that during solidification, the application of pressure at 0.2% solid fraction not only increased the cooling rate but also reduced the solidus temperature. The application of pressure at the same solid fraction also reduces the SDAS to 15.54 µm. However, pressure application at 63% solid fraction recorded the lowest porosity volume percentage and highest density values of 0.133% and 2.723 g, respectively. Further increase in the cooling rate had a slight effect on the SDAS refinement.