The solidification process and microstructure of Al-7Si-0.3Mg alloy with different rare earth (RE) additions have been studied by using thermal analysis, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results showed that the addition of RE enhanced the liquidus temperature and decreased the growth temperature of eutectic Si, which lead to obvious increase in solidification interval of the studied alloy. In addition, the grain size of primary α-Al had no obvious change, and the mean area of eutectic Si particles decreased with increasing RE content to 1.6 wt.%. The RE-rich compounds with different compositions were obtained with increasing RE concentration in Al-7Si-0.3Mg alloys. The method of phase diagram calculation helps to clarify the formation and growth mechamism of different RE-rich phases during solidification.
The shrinkage porosity that was caused by the insufficient feeding during solidification, was a common defect in the semi-solid die casting process. This defect decreased significantly the mechanical properties of the casting. In order to avoid the shrinkage porosity in casting, the die design, slug preparation and die casting process were carefully considered. In this study, a designed mold was used to make the sequential solidification of the slug. The process parameters, including intensification pressure, die temperature and biscuit thickness of the casting, were studied to show their influence on shrinkage porosity defects. The experimental results show that the high intensification pressure, high die temperature and long biscuit can be beneficial to obtain castings with no shrinkage porosity.
Microstructures with fine globular grains and refined eutectic structures are important to enhance the mechanical properties of A356 alloys processed by semi-solid and gravity die casting. Rare earth (RE) additions have been shown to be capable of refining both the α-Al particles as well as modify the eutectic phase of alloys. In semi-solid die casting, Al7Si0.3Mg alloys with RE concentrations (0, 0.1 and 0.4 wt.%) were used to prepare semi-solid slurries using the SEED (Swirling Enthalpy Equilibrium Device) method, and subsequently semi-solid die cast. The same compositions of alloys were also applied to gravity die casting. The microstructure and mechanical properties of castings in two processes have been characterized. Compared to the grains produced in gravity die casting, globular grains with small size (260 μm) in the semi-solid die casting significantly enhance the UTS and elongation of alloys. Although the size of grains had no change with increasing RE concentrations in alloys. The Al-Si eutectics were changed to refined morphology with the 0.1 wt.% RE addition, which enhanced the ductility of alloys in two processes. When increasing the RE addition to 0.4 wt.%, the RE-rich phases precipitated at grain boundaries, which decreased the UTS and elongation of alloys.
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