• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 1999.03b
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• pp.195-198
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• 1999

For the thixoforming process beside an existing solidus-liquidus interval, the reheating conditions to obtain the globular microstructure are very important. It relies on the control of globular microstructure of semi-solid alloys that contain non-dendritic particles. To obtain the globular microstructure in cross section of billet, the optimal design of the induction coil is necessary. Therefore, in this paper the optimal coil design to minimize electromagnetic end effect will be proposed. The results of coil design were also applied to the reheating process to obtain a fine globular microstructure. Finally, reheating data base of aluminum alloys for thixoforming and FEM model for induction heating based on the optimal coil design have been proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.45-51
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• 1997

For semi-solid forging, it is necessarily required to prepare a workpiece with globular microstructure. Among several processes to obtain golbular microstructure, SIMA process is very simple and advantageous with respect to equipment. This paper presents the influence of effective strain on the globularization with aluminium 2024 alloy in cold working stage by SIMA process. Upsetting and forward extrusion are tested for cold working and induction heating is also carried out for reheating to obtain golbular microstructure. Microstructure is observed with an optical microscope. And finite element simulations to obtain effective strain in cold working stage are performed by using commercial finite element code, DEFORM.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 1998

A semi-solid forming has a lot of advantages compared to the die casting. squeeze casting and conventional forging. therefore, semi-solid forming process is now becoming industrial interest for the production of metal components and metal matrix composites. However the material behaviour in the semi-solid temperature range is not sufficiently known although it controls the whole process through forces and geometry evolutions because the behaviour of metal slurries is complex. The semi-solid materials(SSMs) fabricated under electric-magnetic stirring condition is necessary to be applicated in forming process. A reheating conditions were studied with the reheating time holding time and reheating temperatures. The microstructure of SSM(specimen size : d39${\times}$h85) at the condition of heating time 10min and heating temperature 590${\circ}C$ is the most globular and finest one. The microstructure of SSM(specimen size : d76${\times}$h60) reheated under the three step reheating conditions is most globular and finest.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.437-448
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• 1999

The reheating of the billet in the semi-solid state as quickly and homogeneously as possible is one of the most imposrtant parts. To obtain a fine globular microstructure in cross section of billet, the optimal design of the induction coil for variation of alloys and specimen sizes is necessary. For the thixo-forging process the construction of the reheating data base is very important, because the reheating conditions are different for variation of SSM and billet sizes. So in this study, the optimal coil design of A356 (ALTHIX) and Aι2024 with d×ι=60×90 (mm) to obtain the globular microstructure is theoretically proposed. The suitability of an optimal coil design will be demonstrated by reheating experiments. Finally, the thixoformability of an arbitrarily shaped product is evaluated by its forming variables. The defects and mechanical properties are also investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.29-35
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• 1996

For semi-solid forging with aluminuim alloys, it is required to develope the globular grain structure. It was studide that cold upsetting ration in SIMA process has effect on the globularization of grain structure. Globular microstructure was generated without cold upsettings for commercial aluminium alloys. In the case of A12024, the range of grain size was 40 .approx. 50 .mu. m. The grain growth in growth in globular microstructure depend on heating time. Spur gear was forged in semi-solid state to investigate the forging condition for A12024 with hydraulic press.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.45-51
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• 1999

The semi-solid forging is a new forging technology in which the billet is heated to the semi-solid state coexisting liquid and solid phase for making globular microstructure and subsequently formed. As the semi-solid forging is compared with conventional casting such as die casting and squeeze casting for the characteristics of its process, the product without inner defects such as gas porosity and segregation can be obtained and its microstructure is globular grain. Simutaneously, its mechanical properties are improved by globular microstructure and the lower temperature of the slug causes the cycle time of manufacturing to be shortened and the die life to be lengthened. As it is compared with conventional cold and hot forging, it is possible to minimize the equipment of production owing to a lower forming load and reduce the number of process by a followed treatment for complex shaped product. Therefore it is needed to confirm the quality of a semi-solid forged product by defining its characteristics quantitatively under these advantages. This paper investigates the formability of a master cylinder by its forming variables. And the microstructural characteristics and mechanical property of it is also studied.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2003

Semisolid forming requires alloys with non-dendritic microstructure of the thixotropy. Recently, low pouring temperture method without stirring, i.e. liquidus casting has been found out new fabrication method of the semisolid metals. Effects of melt superheat and mold conditions on the globulization of primary Al of $AlSi_7Mg$ alloy were investigated in gravity casting process without stirring. The microstructures of primary Al as function of melt superheat and mold temperature show globular, rosette and dendritic shapes. The conditions for globular microstructure of primary Al were low melt superheat < 35 K and low mold temperature < 500 K. The thermal conditions for globular microstructure of primary Al were undercooled melt at early solidification stages and slow cooling < 0.6 K/s. It was found that the initial microstructure was maintained throughout the solidification and the globules of primary Al can be obtained by high nucleation of fine and spherical nuclei due to enhanced undercooling of melt.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 1998.03a
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• pp.107-112
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• 1998

The semi-solid materials(SSMs) fabricated under electric-magnetic stirring condition are necessary to be applicated in the thixoforging process. The optimal reheating conditions to thixoforging process were investigated with changing the reheating time, holding time, reheating temperatures, capacity, and adiabatic material size. In the case of solid fraction fs=50%, the microstructure of SSM (specimen size:d76X 190) at the condition of the first reheating time 4min, holding time lrnin and reheating temperature 350%, the second reheating time 3min, holding time 3min and reheating temperature 575C, the thlrd reheating time lmin, holding time 2min and reheating temperature 584'C, capacity Q=8.398KW, and adiabatic material size 53mm is obtained with globular microstructure and finest.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.450-461
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• 1998

The optimal reheating conditions to apply the thixoforging and semi-solid die casting process were investigated by changing the reheating time, the holding time, the reheating temperatures, the capacity of the induction heating system, and the adiabatic material size. In the case of solid fraction fs=50% (for semi-solid die casting), the microstructure of SSM (specimen size:$d76{\times}l90$) at the condition of the first elevating time of 4 min, holding time of 1 min and holding temperature of $350^{\circ}C$, the second elevating time of 3 min, holding time of 3 min and holding temperature of $575^{\circ}C$, the third elevating time of 1 min, holding time of 2 min and holding temperature of $584^{\circ}C$, capacity of Q=8.398KW is obtained with globular microstructure and finest. In addition, in the case of solid fraction fs=55% (for thixoforging), the SSM (specimen size:$d76{\times}l90$) at the condition of the first elevating time of 4 min, holding time of 1 min and holding temperature of $350^{\circ}C$, the second elevating time of 3 min, holding time of 3 min and holding temperature of $570^{\circ}C$, the third elevating time of 1 min, holding time of 2 min and holding temperature of $576^{\circ}C$, capacity of Q=12.04KW is obtained with the finest globular microstructure. We saw that the most important factor in a three-step reheating process is the final holding time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.670-674
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• 1997

Semi-solid forging is a compound forging technology to deventional forging process. Among several steps of semi-solid forging process, the heating step of a billet prior to semi-solid forging step is necessarily required to obtain globular microstructure. For the forming operation to work properly, it is also important to heat the billet uniformly for the uniformity of solid-liquid distribution. To satisfy these requirements, induction heating has been generally used for a long time. This paper presents the method to find heating condition and the temperature distribution inside of a billet with a induction heating apparatus by comparing the computer simulation with experiment for aluminum alloys Al2024 and A356.