Microstructure, hardness and wear characteristics of $SiC_p/Al-6.5wt%Si-1.7wt%Mg$ alloy composites fabricated by the method of rheo-compocasting and hot pressing are investigated in this study. The dispersion of SiC particles in the composites is homogeneous and the hardness improves as additional amount increases. The wear amount of the matrix metal increases highly as wear rates increase, for the wear mechanism changes from adhesive wear to melt wear, and the matrix metal was coated on the surface of revolving disc and its weight increases. In the 5vol% composites, Fe is adhered on the surface of specimen by the projection of the dispersed hard SiC particles which have net-work structure and the coating layer is about $300{\mu}m$. But in the composite more than 20vol%, the wear amount of composite decreases because the SiC particles which have superior hardness, wear resistance and heat resistance properties resist wear, the abrasive wear turn out predominant wear mechanism and so the wear amount of revolving disc increases.

A semi-solid alloy in which solid and liquid phase are co-existing is obtained by stirring of A17075 molten metal. A semi-solid alloy is dependent on the corresponding temperature within the solid-liquid range, and the process parameters should be controlled accurately to obtain the homogeneous semisolid alloy. The fabrication possibility of fiber-reinforced aluminum alloy containing $Al_2O_3$ short fibers with vigorous agitation of short fibers were obtained by control of stirring time, solid fraction and impeller speed in extrusion billet fabrication processes. The microstructure to extrusion billet fabricated by low pressure casting was investigated for fiber dispersion state. The relationship between the extrustion force and velocity at hot extrustion, the flow strain and extrusion ratio were theoretically described. The surface defects with lubricants and without lubricant after hot extrusion were investigated. The composites materials after hot extrusion were measured by vickers hardness with extrusion ratio. It has become clear that the secondary working such as hot extrusion was very useful to obtained improved the mechanical properties of metal matrix composites.

The effects of casting processes-direct and indirect squeeze casting, permanent mold casting and die casting on the microstructure and mechanical properties were studied for the hypereutectic B390 aluminium alloy. The effects of T5 and T6 heat treatment were also examined. The direct and indirect squeeze casting showed no casting defects such as porosity and shrinkage were observed in permanent mold castings and die castings. The primary silicon phase was refined and homogeneously distributed in the order of indirect squeeze casting, diecasting, direct squeeze casting and permanent mold casting. Depletion of primary silicon phase in die casting surface was disappeared in indirect squeeze casting. Tensile strength of cast and heat treated specimens were increased in the order of direct squeeze casting, permanent mold casting, indirect squeeze casting and die casting. Hardness of indirect squeeze castings was larger than that of other castings. As indirect squeeze casting of B390 aluminium alloy, the time of T6 heat treatment to achieve high strength can be reduced.

In gravity die casting, die cooling systems are frequently employed with water cooling to remove the heat of the solidifying metal. Thermal modeling is an important technique in mold design for improving the productivity of the process. Computer simulation system which consists of pre-processor, main solidification simulator and post-processor has been developed for three dimensional solidification analysis of cyclic gravity die casting. The pre-processor is used for mesh generation in a PC system. The modified finite difference method is adopted for the main solidification simulation algorithm during all the casting cycles. The post-processor graphically presents the simulation results. Several experiments in automotive cast piston were carried out. The temperature variations in casting and mold with time are measured experimentally, and the results are compared with calculation results. The effects of cycle number on solidification pattern are also studied. Several experimental results for the prediction of shrinkage defects are compared with calculated results.

The interfacial phenomena between intermetallic compounds and Al matrix have been studied at $680^{\circ}C$ for various holding time under argon atmosphere. Model experiments were performed using Fe, Ni and Ti wire to observe the interfacial phenomena. The interfacial phenomena between intermetallic compounds and Al matrix were analysed by optical microscope, SEM and EDX. The results of EDX and XRD showed that the interfacial zones of intermetallic compounds/Al matrix were composed of several intermetallic layers. The reaction layer was varied with holding time and heating temperature. The investigation of interfacial zones in the specimen as a function of heat treatment time at $680^{\circ}C$ indicated that the best heat treatment condition for squeeze casting was $680^{\circ}C$ for 5min.

Aluminum alloy 2024 matrix composites reinforced with $Al_2O_3$ particles, were prepared by rheo-compocasting, a process which consists of the incoporation distribution of reinforcement by stirring within a semi-solid alloy. The microstructures and characteristics of the interfaces have been studied using optical microscope and scanning electon microscope in 2024 aluminum alloy composites reinforced with $Al_2O_3$ particles. The main results are as follows: (1) $Al_2O_3$ particles were well distributed in composites by using rheo-compocasting. (2) As the addition of $Al_2O_3$ particle increases, the average dendrite numbers and the hardness were increased. (3) Interaction between $Al_2O_3$ particles and alloy 2024 resulted in the formation of Mg and Cu element rich region around the $Al_2O_3$ particles.