• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.322-325
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• 2006

The nano/microstructure and mechanical properties of the eutectic regions in thixo and rheo cast A356 alloy parts were investigated 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, however Si particles of network in eutectic region was formed quickly with aging time increase in thixo-cast. The aging responses of the eutectic regions in both the thixo and rheo cast A356 alloys aged at $150^{\circ}C$ for different times (0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 24, 36, and 72 h) were investigated. Both Vickers hardness ($H_V$) and indentation ($H_{IT}$) test results showed almost the same trend of aging curves, the peak was obtained at the same aging time of 10 h.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2014

Thixo-extrusion of semi-solid 7075 aluminum alloy and the mechanical properties of its extrudates were investigated. The semisolid alloy was prepared by a cooling slope cast. In other to perform thixo-extrusion, semi-solid 7075 aluminum alloy billets were reheated at the reheating conditions reported in a previous study. The maximum extrusion pressure in thixo-extrusion was 615MPa. This was lower than that of conventional hot extrusion ($P_{max}=940MPa$) at the same extrusion conditions due to the increased fluidity of the alloy billet in the semi-solid state. The values of Rockwell hardness (scale B) at the extrusion direction of the as thixoextruded bar were 48~53HRB and the difference in Rockwell hardness between the transverse direction and the extrusion direction was 5HRB or less. The results show that thxio-extrusion of semi-solid 7075 Al alloy improves the workability and anisotropic with the extrusion direction compared with hot extrusion of the conventional alloy.