Advances in Semi-solid Forming

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Metal Casting, Forming and Heat Treatment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 10013

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Engineering Research Center of Continuous Extrusion, Ministry of Education, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, China
Interests: Semi-solid forming/processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Casting Research, Montanuniversität Leoben, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
Interests: solidificaiton and casting; electron microscopy; high performance alloys; phase transformaiton
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Semi-solid metal forming has developed since the 1970s. Thixoforming has been widely used in Europe, America, Japan and other countries to manufacture high-performance automobile, aircraft and other parts. Rheological forming technology has more advantages in energy saving and cost reduction. With the development and maturity of semi-solid slurry preparation technology, rheological forming is developing more and more rapidly. Rheological forming technology has been widely used in 5G communication filter boxes, new energy vehicle battery packs and other complex and thin-walled radiator parts. The large-scale complex thin-walled aluminum alloy devices made of special semi-solid die-casting aluminum alloy with high thermal conductivity have broad application prospects that can be utilized in the future. This issue provides some representative achievements in this field to exchange.

Prof. Dr. Renguo Guan
Dr. Jiehua Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Semisolid
  • Thixoforming
  • Rheoforming
  • 5G communication filter box
  • New energy vehicle battery pack
  • Large-scale complex thin-walled aluminum alloy devices
  • Aluminum alloy with high thermal conductivity

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 4032 KiB  
Article
A Preliminary Study on the Quality of Joining AISI 316 and AISI 3415 Steel by the Near Solidus Forming Process
by Gorka Plata, Olaia Gordo-Burgoa, Jokin Lozares, Andrea Sánchez, Asier Bakedano, Iñaki Hurtado and Carl Slater
Metals 2023, 13(7), 1230; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13071230 - 04 Jul 2023
Viewed by 761
Abstract
In this study, the Near Solidus Forming (NSF) process, which falls under the umbrella of semi-solid processes, was utilized to coforge an AISI 316 tube and an AISI 3415 rod into an as-forged valve geometry. The billet used for the process was kept [...] Read more.
In this study, the Near Solidus Forming (NSF) process, which falls under the umbrella of semi-solid processes, was utilized to coforge an AISI 316 tube and an AISI 3415 rod into an as-forged valve geometry. The billet used for the process was kept as large as possible to increase the contact surface area between the two materials. The process was carried out at 1360 °C in a single stroke, almost completely filling the geometry. No joining was observed in areas where low strains were expected, but in regions with medium to high strains, cross-diffusion of 2–7 μm was observed. The presence of small oxide particles was also observed in the joint due to the bimetallic billet shape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semi-solid Forming)
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13 pages, 23756 KiB  
Article
Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of A356 Alloy and A6061 Alloy through Rheo, Upsetting, Thixo, Forming Process, and T6 Heat Treatment
by Chul Kyu Jin
Metals 2022, 12(12), 2051; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12122051 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1387
Abstract
The thixo process has the benefit of producing a semi-solid material in which fine primary α-Al grains are uniformly distributed. However, it also has the disadvantage of a costly raw material billet. In this study, a semi-solid slurry was prepared from the rheo [...] Read more.
The thixo process has the benefit of producing a semi-solid material in which fine primary α-Al grains are uniformly distributed. However, it also has the disadvantage of a costly raw material billet. In this study, a semi-solid slurry was prepared from the rheo process by cooling and electromagnetic stirring, and then a billet for the thixo process was manufactured through an upsetting process with semi-solid slurry. Then, the billet was reheated (thixo process) to make a semi-solid state, and then a final sample was manufactured through a forming process. In both A356 and A6061 materials, the equivalent diameter of the primary α-Al grains became smaller and the roundness became close to one throughout rheo, upsetting, thixo, and forming processes. Due to the refinement and spheroidizing effect of the primary α-Al grains, the tensile strength was improved by each process, and the elongation was slightly decreased. However, after T6 heat treatment, the tensile strength of A356 was decreased, but the elongation was greatly improved. In the case of A6061, on the other hand, the tensile strength was significantly improved, and its elongation decreased after T6 heat treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semi-solid Forming)
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14 pages, 9074 KiB  
Article
Effects of Process Parameters on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Semi-Solid Al-7Si-0.5Mg Aluminum Alloy by Gas Induced Semi-Solid Process
by Guochao Gu, Lixin Xiang, Ruifen Li, Wenhua Xu, Yupeng Lu and Raphaël Pesci
Metals 2022, 12(10), 1600; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12101600 - 25 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1946
Abstract
Al-7Si-0.5Mg aluminum alloy semi-solid slurry with good spherical grains was prepared by gas induced semi-solid process (GISS) and the effects of both holding time and medium alloy addition on the microstructure of the semi-solid slurry were investigated. These two parameters have a great [...] Read more.
Al-7Si-0.5Mg aluminum alloy semi-solid slurry with good spherical grains was prepared by gas induced semi-solid process (GISS) and the effects of both holding time and medium alloy addition on the microstructure of the semi-solid slurry were investigated. These two parameters have a great influence on the solid fraction, the size and the sphericity of the grains. With holding time increased from 85 s to 270 s, the solid phase fraction of the semi-solid slurry decreased from ~0.77 to ~0.67, the average grain size increased from ~95 μm to ~225 μm and the average shape factor decreased from ~0.80 to ~0.33. When medium alloy addition varied in the range of 0.5–2.0 wt%, a better slurry microstructure was obtained at about 1.5 wt%. Compared with the conventional liquid die-casting, the semi-solid die-casting improved the mechanical properties of tensile bars; yield strength, tensile strength and elongation of tensile bars reached ~240 MPa, ~307 MPa and ~8.8% after heat treatment, respectively. In conclusion, GISS process can prepare the semi-solid slurry with uniform and round microstructure, and the semi-solid die-casting can improve mechanical properties of Al-7Si-0.5Mg aluminum alloy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semi-solid Forming)
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15 pages, 18234 KiB  
Article
The Effect of CRITSIMA Process Parameters on the Microstructure Evolution and Element Segregation of Semi-Solid CuSn10P1 Alloy Billet
by Xiongchao Zhang, Lei Chen, Han Xiao, Yuhang Zhou, Hao Chen and Zhike Duan
Metals 2022, 12(3), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12030487 - 14 Mar 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1727
Abstract
In this paper, based on the as-cast CuSn10P1 alloy. Semi-solid CuSn10P1 alloy billet was prepared by cold-rolled isothermal treatment strain-induced melting activation (CRITSIMA). The effects of cold-rolling reduction, isothermal temperature, and isothermal time on the microstructure of semi-solid copper alloy billet were studied [...] Read more.
In this paper, based on the as-cast CuSn10P1 alloy. Semi-solid CuSn10P1 alloy billet was prepared by cold-rolled isothermal treatment strain-induced melting activation (CRITSIMA). The effects of cold-rolling reduction, isothermal temperature, and isothermal time on the microstructure of semi-solid copper alloy billet were studied by metallographic microscope and Image-Pro Plus software. The changes of primary elements in as-cast and semi-solid microstructure were analyzed briefly by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that with the increase of cold rolling reduction, the average grain diameter of semi-solid microstructure decreases gradually, the average grain roundness increases first and then decreases, and the liquid fraction of the microstructure remains unchanged. During semi-solid isothermal treatment, with the increase of isothermal temperature and the extension of isothermal time, the average grain diameter increases gradually, the average grain roundness increases first and then decreases, and the liquid fraction increases gradually. When cold rolling reduction is 30%, isothermal temperature is 900 ℃, and isothermal time is 20 min, a better microstructure can be obtained. The average grain diameter, average grain roundness, and liquid fraction of semi-solid alloy billet are 66.45 μm, 0.71, and 12.78%, respectively. Sn and P diffuse from the intergranular liquid to the grain inside during the isothermal treatment from as-cast to semi-solid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semi-solid Forming)
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16 pages, 5397 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Solution Treatment on the Si Particles’ Morphology Evolution and the Thermal Conductivity and Tensile Properties of Sb-Modified Al-8Si-0.6Mg Alloys
by Xiaopeng Liang, Yihao Wang, Li Wang, Xinming Guo, Liangjie Zhang and Huizhong Li
Metals 2022, 12(3), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12030377 - 22 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1354
Abstract
The effects of solution treatment time on the morphology evolution of Si particles and the thermal conductivity and tensile properties of Sb-modified alloys were studied. The results show that the evolution of Si particles follows four mechanisms: spheroidization, necking and splitting of particles [...] Read more.
The effects of solution treatment time on the morphology evolution of Si particles and the thermal conductivity and tensile properties of Sb-modified alloys were studied. The results show that the evolution of Si particles follows four mechanisms: spheroidization, necking and splitting of particles with large aspect ratios, fusion of spherical particles, and coarsening controlled by diffusion. The first three mechanisms mainly occur at the early stage of solution treatment. The addition of Sb does not change the evolution law of the Si particles, but it does change the contribution of various evolution mechanisms, including promoting spheroidization, fusion, and coalescence, as well as significantly reducing the coarsening rate, which makes the thermal modification of Sb-modified alloys more effective. The increase in thermal conductivity during solution treatment is related to the decrease of the anharmonicity of lattice vibration, lattice wave scattering, and electron scattering of Si particles. The 0.4 wt. % Sb-modified alloy exhibits excellent tensile strength and elongation under as-cast T4- and T6-heat-treated conditions, because the modification significantly reduces the stress concentration of the Si particles and delays the germination and propagation of microcracks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semi-solid Forming)
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13 pages, 5309 KiB  
Article
Microstructure Evolution and Solidification Behavior of a Novel Semi-Solid Alloy Slurry Prepared by Vibrating Contraction Inclined Plate
by Yan Liu, Minqiang Gao, Ying Fu, Weirong Li, Pan Yang and Renguo Guan
Metals 2021, 11(11), 1810; https://doi.org/10.3390/met11111810 - 10 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1538
Abstract
In this work, based on the A356 alloy, a novel Al–Si–Mg–Cu–Fe–Sr alloy with good mechanical property and high thermal conductivity was developed. The semi-solid slurry of the alloy was prepared via the vibrating contraction inclined plate. The microstructure evolution and solidification behavior of [...] Read more.
In this work, based on the A356 alloy, a novel Al–Si–Mg–Cu–Fe–Sr alloy with good mechanical property and high thermal conductivity was developed. The semi-solid slurry of the alloy was prepared via the vibrating contraction inclined plate. The microstructure evolution and solidification behavior of the alloy were investigated. The results demonstrated that, compared with the A356 alloy, the enhanced property of the Al–Si–Mg–Cu–Fe–Sr alloy was associated with the size of primary α-Al grains and morphology of eutectic Si phases. In addition, the preparation process parameters of semi-solid slurries, including the pouring temperature, inclination angle, and vibration frequency, had a crucial effect on the size and morphology of primary α-Al grains. The optimized pouring temperature, inclination angle, and vibration frequency were 670 °C, 45°, and 60 Hz, respectively. In this condition, for the primary α-Al grains, a minimum grain diameter of 64.31 µm and a maximum shape factor of 0.80 were obtained. This work provides a reference for the application of the alloy with high performance in the field of automobile and communication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Semi-solid Forming)
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