• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.359-365
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• 2001

The superplastic behavior of whisker reinforced aluminum alloy matrix composites fabricated by squeeze casting as one of high pressure routes was investigated. The preforms of ${\alpha}-Si_3N_4$ and ${\beta}-SiC$ whiskers without any binder as a reinforcement were used. The matrix materials were 2024 and 7075 aluminum alloys. For the purpose of optimum superplastic condition, respectively, the whiskers volume fraction, extrusion temperature, tensile test temperature and initial strain rate were changed. Fracture surface of tested specimens were observed by SEM. By the results, it became possible to produce superplastic composites by applying only a hot extrusion process to composites obtained by the squeeze casting. The superplastic composites developed are ${\alpha}-Si_3N_4w/7075$, ${\alpha}-Si_3N_4w/2024$ and ${\beta}-SiCw/2024$ systems at high strain rate.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.388-396
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• 1995

This study has been conducted with the purpose of examining the fatigue crack growth characteristics of $Al_2O_3$ short fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites made by squeeze casting process with different applied pressure and binder amount. Fatigue crack growth experiments have been performed under constant load amplitude method with a fixed load ratio. The rate of crack propagation was decreased with binder amount as well as applied pressure. Also fatigue crack growth path in matrix was changed from flat to rough mode with an increase of applied pressure. In the composites, fatigue crack was propagated to interface between matrix and reinforcement at 10MPa, but it was propagated to reinforcement at 20MPa. The major reason of thee result was considered that interfacial bonding force and microstructure of matrix were improved due to an increase of applied pressure. Localized ductile striation in the composites was observed at low growth rate region and such a phenominon was remarkable with an increase of applied pressure. At high growth rate region, the propensity of fracture appearance was changed from interfacial debonding to reinforcement fracture with an increase of applied pressure.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.537-549
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• 1996

This study aims at investigating the correlation of microstructure and mechanical properties of the AZ91 Mg/Al borate whisker composites fabricated by squeeze csting technique with a variation of applied pressure. Microstructure observation and in-situ fracture tests were conducted on the composites to identify the microfracture process. Detailed microstructural analyses indicated that the grain refinement could be achieved with applied pressure and the little change in volume fraction on reinforcing whiskers could be carried out. It was also found clearly from in-situ observation of crack initiation and propagation that in the composite processed by the lower applied pressure, microcracks were initiated earily at whisker/matrix interfaces, thereby resulting in the drop in strength. In the composite processed by the higher applied pressure, on the other hand, planar slip lines were well developed in the matrix, and then propagated through whiskers without whisker/matrix decohesion. Thus, the effect of the applied pressure on microstructure and mechanical properties can be explained by grain refinement, increased amounts of reinforcements, and improvement of whisker/matrix interfacial strength as the applied pressure in increased.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.419-428
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• 1994

The microvickers hardness and microstructure of Fe/Al composite fabricated by squeeze casting method were investigated. Pure Al and A356 Alloy were chosen for the matrix composition and Fe preform was fabricated with sintered Fe powder at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 30min. under hydrogen atmosphere. Experimental variables were included preheating temperature, melt temperature and applied pressure. Analysing the experimental result concerning microstructure of fabricated composites, Fe/A356 composite showed improved microstructure at $600^{\circ}C$ melt temperature and $350^{\circ}C$ preform preheating temperature in Fe distribution and Infiltrated distance. The results of EDX and XRD showed that the interfacial zones of Fe/Al composite were composed of non-equilibrium intermetallic layers[$(Al_5Fe_2)_x$, $Al_{13}Fe_4m\;Fe_3Al$, FeAl]. The microvickers hardness of Fe/Al composite showed higher value than Fe/A356 composite in interface.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.267-275
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• 1997

Fabrication of high strength Mg-Li-Al alloys by squeeze casting was established by the stabilization of melt and mold temperatures, applied pressure and the refining method. The entrapment of inclusions during pouring was prevented using 30 ppi alumina foam filter. The as-cast microstructure consists of a mixture of ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ phases including AILi and $MgLi_2$, Al particles, which are distributed in the ${\beta}$ matrix. The grain sizes of gravity and squeeze casting alloys were 288 ${\mu}m$ and 207 ${\mu}m$ respectively. The addition of Al in Mg-Li alloys promoted the formation of second phase particles, which were adjusted to optimize the properties of Mg-Li-Al alloys. The Mg-10wt%Li-5wt%Al alloy after heat treatment at $350^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour showed the maximum hardness value. This is due to the facts that the amounts of ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ phases and their distributions are dependent upon the solution treatment temperature, and that the amounts of AILi and $MgLi_2Al$ particles are dependent upon the Al content.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.7 s.94
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• pp.1740-1750
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• 1993

The aluminar short fiber reinforced composite materials for hot extrusion were fabricated by semi-solid stirring method, and extruded at extrusion temperature $400^{\circ}C$ with various extrusion ratio. The hot extrusion load of volume fraction 15% metal matrix composites and base alloy Al7075 has been compared. The fiber length distribution, fiber breakage and fiber orientation are investiged to know the fiber behaviour in before and after hot extrusion. The tensile strength of the hot extruded billet are experimentally determined for different of extrusion ratios, and compared with theorically calculated strength.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.1398-1401
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• 2005

The nano/microstructure, the aging response (in T5 heat treatment), and the mechanical/tribological properties of the eutectic regions in squeeze-cast A356 alloy were investigated using nano/micro-indentation and mechanical scratching, combined wit optical microscopy and atomic force microscope(AFM). Most eutectic Si crystals in the A356 alloy showed a modified morphology as fine-fibers. The loading curve for the eutectic region was more irregular than that of the primary Al region due to the presence of various particles of varying strength. In addition, the eutectic region showed lower pile-up and higher elastic recovery than the primary Al region. The aging responses of the eutectic regions in the squeeze-cast A356 alloys aged at $150^{\circ}C$ for different times(0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 24, 36 and 72 h) were investigated. As the aging time increased, acicular Si particles in the eutectic regions gradually came to a fine structure. Both Vickers hardness ($H_V$) and indentation ($H_{IT}$) test results showed almost the same trend of aging curves, and the peak was obtained at the same aging time of 10 h. A remarkable size-dependence of the tests was found. The friction coefficient for the eutectic region was lower than that for the primary Al region.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 1996

This study has been investigated the influence of solid solution treatment on the microstructure of Mg-6Al-xZn(x=0,1,2) alloys fabricated by squeeze casting process. The products having clean surface and fine microstructure are fabricated by adopting the liquid metal forging method. The microstructures of as-fabricated state show ${\beta}(Mg_{17}Al_{12})$ precipitates between the dendrite boundaries. It is found that the hardness of the alloys is increased with increasing amount of zinc due to the solid solution hardening effect of zinc. In the changes of microstructure upon solid solution treatment time at $405^{\circ}C$, ${\beta}$ phases are dissolved in ${\alpha}$ matrix up to 1hr and the microstructure are coarsened rapidly after 2hrs. The microhardness are decreased rapidly until 1hr of solution treatment time and then stabilized. From the above results, it is concluded that the optimum solid solution treatment condition for Mg-6Al-xZn alloys is at $405^{\circ}C$ for 1hr. The solution treatment time is greatly reduced comparing to conventional casting(at $385{\sim}418^{\circ}C$ for 10~14hrs) due to the formation of the super-saturated solid solution by liquid metal forging.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.993-998
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• 1998

In this study TiNi/A16061 shape memory composite is introduced as one of new material using a shape memory alloy. High tensile strength of composite due to compressive residual stress in matrix by the shape memory effect of TiNi fiber can be produced. This composite can remove the tensile residual stress by the difference of coefficients of thermal expansion between fiber and matrix. one of the significant weak point of metal matrix composite. In this paper, shape memory composites are made by squeeze casting. And then, microstructure and fatigue properties of the composites by shape memory effect above inverse transformation temperature A, of TiNi alloy are discussed. The results of the fatigue crack control properties of TiNi/A16061 shape memory composite by a squeeze casting are summarized as follows the effect of fatigue crack propagation control at 363K increases according to the increase of volume fraction and prestrain in composites.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.12
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• pp.797-810
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• 2009

A study was made of the effects of a Sn addition on the microstructure and microfracture mechanism of squeeze cast AZ51-xSn magnesium alloys. Microstructural observation, in situ fracture testing, and fractographic observations were conducted on these alloys to clarify the microfracture process. The microstructural analyses indicated that $Mg_2Sn$ particles as well as $Mg_{17}Al_{12}$ particles precipitated mainly along the solidification cell boundaries; the volume fraction of these hard particles increased as the amount of added Sn increased, with increased the strength. From in situ fracture observations of the AZ51-7Sn alloy, coarse precipitates located on the cell boundaries worked as easy crack propagation sites and caused abrupt intercellular fracturing. On the other hand, the overall fracture properties of the AZ51-3Sn alloy improved because crack propagation proceeded into the Mg matrix rather than into the cell boundaries as twins developed actively, as confirmed by an R-curve analysis. These findings suggest that the addition of 3~5 wt.% Sn is effective in improving both the tensile and fracture properties on the basis of well-developed twins, the blocking of crack propagation, and crack blunting.