• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.16 no.3 s.93
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• pp.178-186
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• 2007

Rheo-forging process of aluminum alloy is suitable for large parts of net shape without defects and excellent mechanical properties in comparison with conventional die casting and forging process. To control the microstructure of the product with high mechanical properties in rheo-forming, solid fraction is required to prevent porosity and liquid segregation. Therefore, in rheo-forging process, die shape, pressure type and solid fraction are very important parameters. The defects such as porosity, liquid segregation and unfitting phenomena occur during rheo-forging process. To prevent these defects, mechanical properties and microstructure analysis of samples versus the change of pressure are carried out and the problem and its solutions are proposed. Also, the mechanical properties versus various pressures were compared with and without heat treatment. The alloys used for rheo-forming are A356 and 2024 aluminum alloy. The rheology material is fabricated by electromagnetic process with controlling current and stirring time.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2009

The effect of porosity on the high-cycle fatigue properties of Al-Si-Mg casting aluminum alloys was investigated in this study. Microstructure examination, tensile and high-cycle fatigue test were conducted on both Al-Si-Mg casted (F) and heat-treated (T6) conditions. Porosity characteristics on the fracture surfaces of fatigue-tested samples were examined using SEM and image analysis. The microstructure observation results showed that eutectic Si particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix of the Al-Si-Mg casting alloys, but there were porosities formed as cast defects. The high-cycle fatigue results indicated that the fatigue strength of the 356-T6 alloy was higher than that of the 356-F alloys because of the significant reduction in volume fraction of pores by heat treatment. The SEM fractography results showed that porosity affected detrimental effect on the fatigue life: 80% of all tested samples fractured as a result of porosity which acted as the main crack initiation site. It was found that fatigue life decreased as the size of the surface pore increased. A comparison was made between surface pore and inner pore for its effect on the fatigue behavior. The results showed that the fatigue strength with the inner pores was higher than that of the surface pore.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.350-352
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• 2009

The effect of porosity on the high-cycle fatigue properties of Al-Si-Mg casting aluminum alloys was investigated in this study. Microstructure examination, tensile and high-cycle fatigue test were conducted on both Al-Si-Mg casted (F) and heat-treated (T6) conditions. Porosity characteristics on the fracture surfaces of fatigue-tested samples were examined using SEM and image analysis. The microstructure observation results showed that eutectic Si particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix of the Al-Si-Mg casting alloys, but there were porosities formed as cast defects. The high-cycle fatigue results indicated that the fatigue strength of the 356-T6 alloy was higher than that of the 356-F alloys because of the significant reduction in volume fraction of pores by heat treatment. The SEM fractography results showed that porosity affected detrimental effect on the fatigue life: 80% of all tested samples fractured as a result of porosity which acted as the main crack initiation site. It was found that fatigue life decreased as the size of the surface pore increased. A comparison was made between surface pore and inner pore fur its effect on the fatigue behavior. The results showed that the fatigue strength with the inner pores was higher than that of the surface pore.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.1011-1012
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• 2012

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.130-136
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• 2002

The growing use of aluminum for castings over the past decade has brought with it the increased scrutiny of component properties. One area that has received much attention is the effect of in inclusions - or impurities particles held in the metal - on casting properties. A new method of electromagnetic separation for removal of inclusions in aluminum alloy melts is proposed. The principle is that as the electromagnetic force induced in metal acts on inclusions due to low electric conductivity, they are moved to the direction opposite to electromagnetic force and can be separated and removed from the melt. Experiments were carried out on A356 melt mixed alumina particles and commercial Al alloys of ADC 10 and 12. In the experiment using A356, it was proved that $Al_2O_3$ particles was separated and removed continuously from matrix melt by electromagnetic force. Based on these results, the continuous separation experiment that used ADC 10, 12 was carried and the cleanliness of melt was assessed by the amount of porosity, hydrogen contents, PoDFA and mechanical properties through tensile test. As the results of analyses, the amount of porosity and hydrogen contents decreased without variation of chemical composition in the specimen that passed the electromagnetic continuous separator. In addition, tensile strength and elongation of this specimen increased by $20{\sim}30%$ because of reduction of inclusions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.299-302
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• 2005

Semisolid A356 slurries were prepared by electromagnetic stirring casting and by inoculation of Al-5Ti-B master alloy. As stirring time and addition of Al-5Ti-B are different, the grain size of the primary phase is different. Through the experiment of rheocast in a Buhler horizontal die casting machine, it was found that the finer the equiaxed primary dendrites, the smoother the die filling and better cast quality. Small equiaxed primary dendrite also results in less liquid segregation on the surface.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2012

In this study, we develop the lower pressure die casting with rheo-forming process of A356 aluminum alloy and vacuum system which can control the crystal size and obtain the high strengthened-light material. Using this process, we fabricate the thin plate for bipolar plate through the low pressure die casting with electromagnetic stirring and vacuum-evacuation which can control the crystal grain by electromagnetic stirring. Thin plate ($110mm{\times}130mm{\times}1mm$) is fabricated by this process. The average Vickers hardness of thin plate is about 77 HV.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.131-134
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• 2007

A semi-solid forming technology has a lot of advantages compared to the die casting, squeeze casting and hot/cold forging, so semi-solid forming has been studied actively. Semi-solid forming has two methods. One is thixoforming with reheating of prepared billet, the other is rheoforming with cooled melt until semi-solid state. Thixoforging technology can produce non-dendritic alloys for semi-solid forming complex shaped parts in metal alloys. In this study, the thixoforging was experimented with made rheology materials by the spiral stirrer equipment. Rheology materials for forging were made by A356 casting aluminum alloy and A6061 wrought aluminum alloy. After experiment, forged samples were measured microstructure and were heat treated for high mechanical properties.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2011

Al-Si alloys have been steadily used as a potential material for the achievement of an efficient weight reduction in the automobile and aerospace industries due to its excellent castability and high strength-to-weight ratio. In this study, riser effect and mechanical properties were investigated according to the size of the sleeve. In addition, the effects of riser size on mechanical properties of castings were investigated. On the other hand flow and solidification process were simulated with a hybrid FDM/FEM package named ZCast. As a result, results of simulation and experiments were comparable regarding to the yield strength, tensile strength, elongation and hardness of casting. It proves the reliability of the simulation. It is expected that the proper size of riser can improve the recycling rate of metallic materials and reduce the cost of casting.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 2008

As the semi-solid forming technology has a lot of advantages compared to the die casting, squeeze casting and hot/cold forging, it has been studied actively. This paper focuses on the thixoforging of the rheological materials fabricated by the spiral mechanical stirring equipment with A356 casting aluminum alloy and A6061 wrought aluminum alloy. Formability tests of rheological materials fabricated by spiral mechanical stirring were carried out and the microstructures of forged sample were observed. After thixoforging experiment, the heat-treated conditions of forged samples are investigated to improve the mechanical properties. These results are able to suggest the possibility of commercialization for rheological materials fabricated by spiral mechanical stirring.