• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.560-568
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• 1997

The dissolution behavior of secondary solidification phases in squeeze cast Al-3.9wt%Cu-1.5wt%Si-1.0wt%Mg has been studied using a combination of optical microscope, image analyzer, scanning electron microscope(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS), X-ray diffractometer(XRD) and differential thermal analyzer (DTA). Special emphasis was placed on the investigation of the effects of the nonequilibrium heat treatment on the dissolution of the second solidification phases. Ascast microstructure consisted of primary solidification product of ${\alpha}-Al$ and secondary solidification products of $Al_2Cu$, $Mg_2Si$ and $Al_2CuMg$. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium solution treatments were carried out at the temperatures of $495^{\circ}C$, $502^{\circ}C$ and $515^{\circ}C$ for 3 to 5 hours. The amount of the dissolved secondary phases increased with increasing solution treatment temperature, for example, area fractions of $Al_2Cu$, $Mg_2Si$ and $Al_2CuMg$ were approximately 0%, 1.6% and 4.2% after solution treatment at $495^{\circ}C$ for 5hours, and were approximately 0%, 0.36% and 2% after solution treatment at $515^{\circ}C$ for 5hours. The best combination of tensile properties was obtained when the as-cast alloy was solution treated at $515^{\circ}C$ for 3hours followed by aging at $180^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours. Detailed DTA and TEM study showed that the strengthening behavior during aging was due to enhanced precipitation of the platelet type fine ${\theta}'$ phase.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 1994

Aluminum matrix composites reinforced by fine steel wires were fabricated by squeeze casting process. Preforms made of fine steel wires were prepared with different surface conditions, namely uncoated(TN), carbo-nitriding treated(TT), and brass coated(TA). Squeeze casting were performed under the pressure of $1500kg/cm^2$ for 3min. during solidification, and pouring temp. of the melt being $750^{\circ}C$ and the steel mold being preheated at $250^{\circ}C$. Microstructural characteristics were evaluated, particularly concerned with the effect of the surface conditions of the preforms. The results obtained from this study are like these. TN specimens show partially non-wetted regions, due to easy formation of oxides on the surface of the fine steel wires. TT specimens show no interfacial reaction between the steel wires and the aluminum alloy matrix, possibly due to the formation of carbo-nitrided zone on the surface of the steel wires. TA specimens show excellent wettabillity between the reinforced steel wires and the aluminum alloy matrix and very thin interfacial zone is formed between them. During the solution hardening treatment of TA specimens, thickness of the interfacial reaction zones were increased with the solution treating time. TA specimens show typical ductile fracture in tensile test, but TT specimens show brittle fracture possibly due to the formation of the brittle hard surface on the steel wires during carbo-nitriding treatments. TA specimens which were reinforced with 40 vol.% of the fine steel wires exhibit high tensile strength of $77.1kgf/mm^2$ and impact value of $8.1kgf-m/cm^2$.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 1993

This study presents the effect of applied pressure on the preform deformation during squeeze casting of $Al_2O_3$ short fiber reinforced aluminum alloy (AC8A) metal matrix composites. A preliminary model based on the general beam theory is suggested for the prediction of the preform deformation. Two different commercially available $Al_2O_3$ short fiber (Saffil, Kaowool) were used to study the influence of the fibers on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the squeeze cast $Al/Al_2O_3$ composites. The composites were fabricated with the applied pressure of 75 MPa which was found to be the optimum condition for the squeeze casting of the composites in this study. For the amorphous Kaowool fiber, hard crystalline Mullite phase was formed with heat treatment. Both of amorphous and the crystallized Kaowool fibers were used to fabricate $Al/Al_2O_3$ composites. Microhardness of crystallized Kaowool fiber revealed higher than that of the amorphous Kaowool fiber in the squeeze cast composites. It was also found that the wear resistance of Kaowool fiber reinforced composites increased with the amount of Mullite.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.338-346
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• 1997

Mechanical properties of ($10%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2+5%Ni$)/Al hybrid composites fabricated by the reaction squeeze casting were compared with those of ($15%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2$)/Ai composites. Al-Ni intermetallic compounds ($10{\sim}20 {\mu}m$) formed by the reaction between nickel powder and molten aluminum were uniformly distributed in the Al matrix. These intermetallic compounds were identified as $Al_3Ni$ using X-ray diffraction analysis and they resulted in beneficial effects on room and high temperature strength and wear resistance. Microhardness values of ($10%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2+5%Ni$)/Al hybrid composite were greater by about 100Hv than those of ($15%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2$)/Al composite. Wear resistance of ($10%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2+5%Ni$)/Al hybrid composites was superior to that of ($15%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2$)/Al composites regardless of the applied load. While tensile and yield strength of ($10%Al_2O_3{\cdot}SiO_2+5%Ni$)/Al hybrid composites were greater at room temperature and $300^{\circ}C$, strength drop at high temperature was much smaller in hybrid composites.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.248-257
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• 1994

Research in heat transfer and solidification commonly involves experimentation and mathematical modeling with associated numerical analysis and computation. Inverse problems in heat transfer are part of this paradigm. During the solidification of metal casting, an interfacial heat transfer resistance exists at the boundary between the casting and the mold, and this heat transfer resistance usually varies with time. In the case of the squeeze casting the contact heat transfer resistance is decreased by pressure and ideal contact is almost accomplished. In the present work, heat transfer coefficient, which is inverse value of the heat transfer resistance, was used for convenience. A numerical technique, Non-Linear Estimation has been adopted for calculation of the casting/mold interfacial heat transfer coefficient during the squeeze casting process. In this method, the measured temperature data from experiment were used. The computational results were applied to the analysis of heat transfer and solidification.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 1995

The mechanical properties of $Al/Al_2O_3$ composites have been investigated in relation with manufacturing factors such as applied pressure of casting and binder amount of preform. It was found that tensile strength increases with an increase of applied pressure, but decreases with binder amount. Increase of tensile strength is attributable to refinement of microstructure, improvement of intefacial bonding between $Al_2O_3$ short fiber and matrix, decrease of porosity in the matrix. Due to the high thermal stability of alumina short fiber, tensile strength of composites at $150^{\circ}C$ was superior to matrix alloy at room temperature. To evaluate the strength of composites, modified Kelly-Tyson's equation was introduced. Manufacturing factor M was obtained calculating from experimental data. M values were increased with applied pressure, but decreased with binder amount. The initiation of microcrack appeared to be at interface and reinforcement colony. Amount of micro-dimple was increased with applied pressure, and interfacial debonding phenomenon was remarkable with an increase of binder amount.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.109-115
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• 2000

In the present study, (10%$Al_2O_3$+5%Si)/AZ91 Mg hybrid composite was fabricated using the squeeze casting method. During squeeze casting, molten Mg was infiltrated into the preform of 10%$Al_2O_3$+5%Si and reaction product of $Mg_2Si$ intermetallic compound was formed by the reaction between molten Mg and Si powder. Microstructure has been observed and mechanical properties were evaluated for the reaction squeeze cast (RSC) hybrid composite. It was found that Si powder totally reacted with molten Mg to form $Mg_2Si$. Reinforcement ($Al_2O_3$) and the reaction product ($Mg_2Si$) are fairly uniformly distributed in Mg matrix for the squeeze cast hybrid composite. Mechanical properties were improved with hybridization of reinforcements, namely higher hardness and enhanced wear resistance comparing squeeze cast (15%$Al_2O_3$)/AZ91 Mg composite.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2006

The effects of applied pressure, superheat and silicon content on the fluidity of Al-Si alloy during squeeze casting were investigated. The Fluidity of Al-7.0wt%Si alloy during squeeze casting was increased with applied pressure up to 60 MPa, meanwhile it rather decreased beyond that. Therefore, the optimum squeeze casting pressure was 60 MPa. The fluidity was increased with superheat up to $150^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, it rather decreased at the superheat of $200^{\circ}C$. The fluidity of Al-Si alloy during squeeze casting was decreased with silicon content in the range of $0.0{\sim}3.0\;wt%$, increased in the range of $3.0{\sim}13.0\;wt%$. The fluidity of Al-15.0 wt%Si alloy was lower than that of Al-13.0 wt%Si alloy.

• 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.