This work presents the results of a thixo-extrusion process applied to aluminum alloy and and reheating characteristics of semi-solid A356 Alloy using have been discussed. The reheating experiment was performed using an electric resistance furnace and multi-stage heating for uniform reheating. The thixo-extrusion was performed at the optimal reheating conditions of the semi-solid A356 alloy, the the extrusion conditions were an extrusion ratio of 33 and ram speed of 6 mm/sec. The results showed that the thixo-extrusion of semi-solid A356 alloy fabricated by the cooling slope reduced the extrusion pressure by 180% in comparison with hot extrusion, and that a sound extrusion could be obtained in spite of the same extrusion ratio and strain rate.

Efforts have been made to develop new silicon-free aluminum casting alloys that possess high electrical and thermal conductivity. In this research Al-Fe-Cu-Mg alloys with various Cu and Mg contents were investigated for their various properties. As the Cu or Mg content was increased, the electrical conductivity gradually decreased, while the tensile strength of the Al-Fe-Cu-Mg alloy tended to be improved. It was found that fluidity was generally inversely proportional to the Cu content, but the alloys containing 1%Mg showed considerably low fluidity, regardless of the Cu content.

Numerical solution of thermal stress by CAE analysis could be an effective method in product development stage of castings to predict and treat the problem of solidification cracking of castings. Quantitative stress-strain data are necessary, in this case. Tension type apparatus of a solidification crack test which can measure stress-strain relationship quantitatively was developed and the test procedure was established by this research. Solidification crack strength obtained from the following test procedure could be utilized to evaluate it in terms of effect factors on thermo-plastic characteristic of solidifying alloy such as grain size of solid, grain morphology, distribution of solid grain, etc. Proposed test procedure is as follow: Prediction of temperature at the failure site of solidification cracked specimen by computer simulation of solidification, Calculation of solid fraction of the failure site from thermodynamic solution of solidification under Scheil condition.