한국주조공학회

The rheocasting characteristics are strongly influenced by the microstructural morphology such as particle size, form factor and contiguity. In this study, the effect of structural morphology on fluid flow characteristics of A356 semi-solid alloy was investigated with a vacuum suction fluidity test. Semi-solid metal slurry was made by the mechanical stirring, the liquidus casting, and H- NCM to be analysed. H-NCM could obtain uniform and fine globular microstructures of 0.9 form factor and 55 μm particle size. Inoculation was found to be effective for reducing particle size, however, for H-NCM it should be avoided due to the cause of increasing contiguity. The fluidity test indicated that the non-stirring method had higher fluidity and smaller liquid segregation in the same solid faction of 0.4 than the stirring method, for smaller particle size and higher form factor. It was observed that liquid segregation decreased as the particle size is smaller and form factor is higher. The results of die-casting experiment were a good agreement with those of fluidity test.

Semi-Solid process, H-NCM, Globular structure, Inoculation, Vacuum suction test, Die-casting, Liquid segregation