• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.198-204
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• 2011

The present study was aimed to investigate the dependence of fatigue property on microporosity variation of low-pressure die-cast (LPDC) A356 alloy. The fatigue property of A356 alloy was evaluated through high cycle fatigue test, and the microporosity-terms used were the fractographic porosity measured from SEM observation on fractured surface and the volumetric porosity obtained through the density measurement using Archimedes's principle. The number of cycles to failure of A356 alloys depends obviously upon the variation of fractographic porosity, and can describe in terms of the defect susceptibility which depends on the microporosity variation at a given value of stress amplitude. The modified Basquin's equation was suggested through the combination of microporosity variation and static maximum tensile stress to fatigue strength coefficient. Using modified Basquin's equation, it could suggest that the maximum values of fatigue strength coefficient and exponent achievable in defect-free condition of A356 alloy are 265 MPa, -0.07, respectively.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.262-266
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• 2011

The aim of this study is to investigate aging behavior of A356 alloy for turbo charger part. The specimen was fabricated by investment casting. Solution heat treatment was performed at $525^{\circ}C$ for 8h and followed by aging treated at $160^{\circ}C$, $170^{\circ}C$ for 0.5~20h. And their microstructures and mechanical properties of the aged specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscope and hardness tester, respectively. All the cast A356 alloy included eutectic Si particles. In the cast A356 alloy, eutectic Si phase mainly was formed along Chinese script phase. Vickers hardness of the cast was improved by aging treatment due to formation of ${\beta}$" phase and ${\beta}$' phase.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.123-129
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• 2014

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.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.156-161
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• 2014

This study is focused on the effect of $Al_2Ca$ as a modifier on eutectic Si modification of A356 alloy. Microstructural observation was carried out for as-cast, as-solution treated and as-aged samples. Solution treatment and aging were performed for 2, 4, 6 and 10 hrs at $540^{\circ}C$ and $170^{\circ}C$, respectively. Although A356 alloy, which $Al_2Ca$ was added, has no significant difference in as-cast phases with normal A356 alloys, it shows much more modified eutectic Si, grain refinement and improved tensile property both in as-cast and as-heat treated conditions. TGA result shows that $Al_2Ca$ added A356 alloy has a certain improvement in oxidation resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.273-276
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• 2004

A356 alloy is one of the most popular casting aluminum alloys due to its good castability. It is well known that the mechanical properties of A356 alloy strongly depend on its characteristic microstructure, such as the size of eutectic Si, primary $\alpha$ dendrite and so on. These microstructural features are determined during the casting and solidification process, which implies the strong relationship with mechanical properties with solidification methods. In the present study, the mechanical characteristics of A356 alloy was investigated by using squeeze cast control arm in terms of the microstructural features, such as the size of eutectic Si, primary a dendrite. By doing so, the most favorable microstructure of A356 could be determined for Al control arm that should be one of the most reliable parts in automobile.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

In this study, we focused on the correlation between the solidification structure, heat treatment and mechanical properties of the A356 alloy according to the conditions of Sr modification. The microstructural evolution of the eutectic Si and ${\alpha}-Al$ phase in the A356 alloy castings depending on the amount of Sr were investigated during solid solution heat treatment using an optical microscope, a scanning electron microscope and an image analyzer. In addition, tensile tests on the heat treated materials examined the relationship between the microstructure and the fracture surface. The as-cast A356 alloys under 40 ppm Sr showed an undermodified microstructure, but that of the added 60-80 ppm Sr had well modified structure of fine fibrous silicon. After solid solution treatment, the microstructure of the undermodified A356 alloy exhibited a partially spheroidized morphology, but the remainder showed the fragmentation of fibrous shaped silicon. The spheroidization of the eutectic silicon in the modified A356 alloys was completed during heat treatment, which was very effective in increasing the elongation. This is supported by the fracture surface in the tensile test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.471-474
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• 2005

This study investigates the nano/microstructure, the aging response, and the mechanical/tribological properties of the eutectic regions in rheoformed A356 alloy-T5 parts using nano/micro-indentation and mechanical scratching, combined with 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. The aging responses of the eutectic regions in the rheoformed A356 alloys aged at $150^{\circ}C$ for different times (0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 24, 36, and 72 h) were investigated. Both Victors hardness $(H_v)$ and indentation $(H_{IT})$ test results showed a similar 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.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2002

Al-5.5Zn-2.5Mg-l.5Cu semi-solid slurry was prepared by cooling the liquid metal with a low superheat to a solid and liquid co-existing temperature. Relatively round solid particles could be obtained in the slurry through the simple process. The prepared slurry was deformed into the metallic mold by a press and the mechanical properties of obtained specimens were investigated. Mold filling ability of the alloy slurry was also investigated and compared with that of A356 alloy. Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy showed lower mold filling ability than A356 alloy probably because small amount of eutectic phase is present and the heat of fusion generated during solidification is smaller than that of A356 alloy.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.128-133
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• 2005

The effects of Mn and Cr on the crystallization behaviors of Fe-bearing intennetallics in A356 alloy were studied. Coarse and acicular ${\beta}-Al_{5}$FeSi phase in A356-0.20wt.%Fe alloy was modified into small ${\alpha}$-Al(Fe,Mn)Si and ${\alpha}$-Al(Fe,Cr)Si phases in response to Mn and Cr addition, respectively. Increasing of Mn addition amount elevates the crystallizing temperature of ${\alpha}$-Al(Fe,Mn)Si and the Mn/Fe ratio in the ${\alpha}$-Al(Fe,Mn)Si. Cr is more effective to modify ${\beta}-Al_{5}$FeSi in comparison with Mn. ${\alpha}$-Al(Fe,Mn)Si phase had BCC/SC dual structure.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.354-361
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• 2011

The liquid metal shearing device was constructed and assembled with a commercial high-pressure die-caster in order to induce intensive turbulent shearing force on molten aluminum alloys. The effect of the liquid metal shearing on the microstructure and tensile properties of A356 alloys was investigated with the variation of iron content. The experimental results show that dendritic primary ${\alpha}$-Al phase was effectively modified into a equiaxed form by the liquid metal shearing. It was also found that the needle-like ${\beta}$-AlFeSi phase in a Fe containing A356 alloy was changed into a blocky shape resulting in the improved mechanical properties. Based on the mechanical properties, it was suggested that the iron content in A356 alloy could be more widely tolerated by utilizing the liquid metal shearing HPDC process.