• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.14 no.4 s.76
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• pp.319-326
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• 2005

In this study, the nano-deformation behavior of semi-solid Al-Si alloy was investigated using a molecular dynamics simulation as a part of the research on the surface crack behavior in thixoformed automobile parts. The microstructure of the grain-size controlled Al-Si alloy consists of primary and eutectic regions. In eutectic regions the crack initiation begins with initial fracture of the eutectic silicon particles and inside other intermetallic phases. Nano-deformation characteristics in the eutectic and primary phase of the grain-size controlled Al-Si alloy were investigated through the molecular dynamics simulation. The primary phase was assumed to be single crystal aluminum. It was shown that the vacancy occurred at the zone where silicon molecules were.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2000

Despite the improved formability and processing advantages, the use of semi-solid metals is greatly limited due to the difficulties in controlling the optimum forming parameters. In the present study, the tensile properties of closed die, pressure formed semi-solid A356 alloy were examined. It was demonstrated that the tensile strength of thixoformed A356 alloy could be greatly reduced when the forming parameters were not rigorously controlled. The reduced strength of unappropriately formed products appeared to be related to the coarsening of the primary phases. The possibility of improving tensile properties of as-formed products by simple post heat treatment was also assessed.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.514-522
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• 1995

The microstructural evolution with isothermal stirring during semi-solid state processing of hypoeutectic Al-6.2wt%Si alloy was studied. Substructure of the individual primary solid particle in the slurry was investigated through transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Formation of subgrain boundaries on the rheocast Al-6.2wt%Si alloy is observed and the misorientation between the grains is shown typically under 2 degrees by analyzing selected area diffraction (SAD) and convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) patterns. The existence of high angle grain boundaries are also observed in the alloy. Based upon these observations, mechanisms for the primary particles fragmentation are considered. With isothermal stirring, the dislocation density increases, and the evolution of dislocation cell structure takes place, which is interpreted as a process of achieving uniform deformation by dynamic recovery under applied shear stress.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.65-69
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• 2003

The effects of microstructural features on the fracture behaviors, including impact, high-cycle fatigue, fatigue and crack propagation, of thixoformed 357-T5 (Al-7%Si-0.6%Mg) alloy were examined. The resistance to impact and high-cycle fatigueof thixoformed 357-T5 tended to improve greatly with increasing solid volume fraction. An almost three-fold increase in impact energy value was, for example, observed with increasing solid volume fraction from 59 to 70%. The improvement in both impact and fatigue properties of thixoformed 357-75 with increasing solid volume fraction in the present study appeared to be related to the magnitude of stress concentration at the interface between primary and eutectic phase, by which the fracture process was largely influenced. Based on the fractographic and micrographic observations, the mechanism associated with the beneficial effect of high solid volume fraction in thixoformed 357-T5 alloy was discussed.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.347-353
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• 2011

There is thixo-extrusion to form high strength aluminum alloy. But, it is a problem that grains become grain coarsening during reheating process because the alloy was exposed at high temperature. In order to solve grain growth during reheating process, calcium was added in Al-Zn-Mg alloys. Primary a grain sizes of semi-solid Al-Zn-Mg-(0, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.9, wt.%)Ca were measured with image analyzer after reheating. Measured primary a grain sizes were applied to LSW(Lifshitz-Slyozov and Wagner) equation to check the effect of Ca on grain coarsening. Coarsening rate constant K values of semi-solid Al-Zn-Mg-(0, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.9, wt.%)Ca alloys were $371\;mm^3s^{-1}$, $247\;mm^3s^{-1}$, $198\;mm^3s^{-1}$ and $166 mm^3s^{-1}$, respectively. As increasing calcium content, K value decreased which means grains are refined. Also, grains of calcium addition were more spherical than that of calcium free.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.247-248
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• 2006

In this study, the morphology of the change of primary Al phase in A356 alloy by two kinds of electromagnetic stirrers(vertical and horizontal) were investigated to obtain the globular structure. The effects of the stirring current, the stirring time and the pouring temperature were determined. The greater stirring current and longer stirring time were to get the finer the Al phase. However, over a certain stirring current and stirring time, the primary Al was merged together and was increased. The reason is the degree of breakdown of initial dendrites has been decreased by the collision and coalescence of particles with increasing stirring current and stirring time. The optimum conditions and difference of the two kinds of electromagnetic stirrers have been investigated for rheology forming with controlled solid fraction.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2012

In this study, we are aimed to prevent grain growth of semi-solid AZ31 magnesium alloys during reheating process. The semi-solid AZ31+(Ca) billets were investigated by using metallographic analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy in order to elucidate the effect of Ca addition during reheating process. The grain growth of semi-solid AZ31+(Ca) billet was reduced with increasing Ca content during reheating. The grain size of AZ31+(Ca) billet decreased with increasing volume fraction of Al2Ca particles. The grain growth rate constant K calculated by Oswald ripening LSW theory in AZ31+1.5wt.% Ca billet was the lowest 129.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.70-73
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• 2002

Using a simple compression test, the viscosity measurement experiment is carried out with the grain-refined Al-Si alloy(A356). The measured rheological data are expressed with power-law(Ostwald-de Waele) model and using commercial package, MAGMAsoft, coefficients of Ostwald-de Waele model and Carreau-Yasuda model are calculated. To verify the viscosity data, the die is designed to be applicable to the semi-solid die casting of automotive component and filling test is carried out. The filling test and the simulation result are compared and in good agreement. Hereafter, these data are considered to be usefully allied other product in the semi-solid die casting.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.359-368
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• 1993

Mg-9wt.%Al and Mg-9wt.%-1.6wt%Zn/SiCp(particle size $40{\mu}m$) metal-matrix-composite specimens were manufactured by rheo-compocasting method, known for its effect of improving the wettability. The ceramic reinforcement particles(SiCp) were dispersed in the semi-solid magnesium alloy matrix slurry being vigorously stirred in a high frequency induction furnace under inert atmosphere. A microstructural study of the dispersed particles in the specimens, prepared under different conditions as regards the time(10min, 20min, 30min) and temperature of the stirring, was made with the aid of optical microscope and SEM. The effect of superheating was also observed. It is revealed that 30 minutes' stirring time of the semi-solid at 40% solid fraction temperature(Mg-9wt.%Al : $590^{\circ}C$, AZ91 : $576^{\circ}C$), as determined by the lever rule, gives a satisfactorily uniform distribution of the particles. The superheating is observed to enhance further the uniformity.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.331-339
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• 2004

Melt-extrusion process, a metallic melt poured and solidified up to semisolid state in the container can be directly extruded through the die exit to form a product of bar shape without other intermediate processes. In this study, the fabrication characteristics of the process were evaluated with various process parameters, such as preheating temperature of extrusion dies, extrusion temperature and extrusion ratio. AI-Cu alloys were successfully extruded after squeezing out of liquid during melt-extrusion with smaller force compared to the solid extrusion. Soundly AI-Cu alloy bar was fabricated at the preheating temperature of $500{\sim}520^{\circ}C$. The range of extrusion temperature for soundly melt-extruded AI-Cu alloy bar was increased with increasing extrusion ratio. Mechanical properties of melt-extruded AI-Cu alloy bars were found change with Cu content of the melt-extruded bars due to the occurrence of segregation. The various extrusion temperature yielded equiaxed structure with a grains size about 200 ${\mu}m$.