Porous hybrid preforms were fabricated by reactive sintering using the compacts consisting of SiC particles, Fe and Al powders. Squeeze casting processing was employed to produce the composite in which the matrix phase is Al-Si7Mg. The microstructural change and wear resistance of the composites were investigated in terms of an amount of SiC particles. The wear loss was increased with increasing the contact pressure in the alloy containing SiC particles coated with Cu. The most drastic change was found to the specimen tested at 2.5 MPa of contact pressure. Concerning the alloys containing SiC particles coated with Ni-P, a drastic increase in the wear loss exhibited at 2 MPa of contact pressure in those alloys containing 4 and 8 wt. % of SiC particles coated with Ni-P. In the alloy containing 16 wt. % a proportional increase in wear loss was observed to the change of contact pressure. With respecting to the sliding velocity, the wear loss of the alloy containing SiC particles coated with Cu increased at the initial stage of wear process and then decreased. Similar result was found in the alloys containing SiC particles coated with Ni-P. On the basis of the present results obtained, it was found that wear resistance of the alloys tested was improved to show in the order of the alloy reinforced by coated SiC particles > by uncoated SiC particles > by intermetallic compound without SiC particles.

Semisolid forming requires alloys with non-dendritic microstructure of the thixotropy. Recently, low pouring temperture method without stirring, i.e. liquidus casting has been found out new fabrication method of the semisolid metals. Effects of melt superheat and mold conditions on the globulization of primary Al of $AlSi_7Mg$ alloy were investigated in gravity casting process without stirring. The microstructures of primary Al as function of melt superheat and mold temperature show globular, rosette and dendritic shapes. The conditions for globular microstructure of primary Al were low melt superheat < 35 K and low mold temperature < 500 K. The thermal conditions for globular microstructure of primary Al were undercooled melt at early solidification stages and slow cooling < 0.6 K/s. It was found that the initial microstructure was maintained throughout the solidification and the globules of primary Al can be obtained by high nucleation of fine and spherical nuclei due to enhanced undercooling of melt.

This experimental study was carried out to investigate the solidification characteristics of polystyrene added styronaphthalene pattern materials using various castability test methods. The styronaphthalene showed an excellent filling capacity and shaping behavior having about 0.2 mm meniscus radius. The shell thickness of styronaphthalene showing smooth wall at the solid/liquid interface increased with the increasing of polystyrene addition. The solidification microstructure of styronaphthalene showed a typical thin ribbon reinforced composite structure, which has fibrous amorphous skeleton of polystyrene and crystalline naphthalene. From the results of this study, it was found that the polystyrene added styronaphthalene showed a precision shaping behavior as disposable pattern material under the atmospheric condition.