Effect of Induction Heating Conditions on Globular Microstructure of Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg Alloy for Thixoforming

Thixoforming을 위한 Al-7%Si-0.3%Mg 합금의 유도 가열 조건이 구상화 조직에 미치는 영향

The optimal reheating conditions to apply the thixoforging and semi-solid die casting process were investigated by changing the reheating time, the holding time, the reheating temperatures, the capacity of the induction heating system, and the adiabatic material size. In the case of solid fraction fs=50% (for semi-solid die casting), the microstructure of SSM (specimen size:$d76{\times}l90$) at the condition of the first elevating time of 4 min, holding time of 1 min and holding temperature of $350^{\circ}C$, the second elevating time of 3 min, holding time of 3 min and holding temperature of $575^{\circ}C$, the third elevating time of 1 min, holding time of 2 min and holding temperature of $584^{\circ}C$, capacity of Q=8.398KW is obtained with globular microstructure and finest. In addition, in the case of solid fraction fs=55% (for thixoforging), the SSM (specimen size:$d76{\times}l90$) at the condition of the first elevating time of 4 min, holding time of 1 min and holding temperature of $350^{\circ}C$, the second elevating time of 3 min, holding time of 3 min and holding temperature of $570^{\circ}C$, the third elevating time of 1 min, holding time of 2 min and holding temperature of $576^{\circ}C$, capacity of Q=12.04KW is obtained with the finest globular microstructure. We saw that the most important factor in a three-step reheating process is the final holding time.