Effect of Ultrasonic Treatment on the Microstructure of A201 Aluminium Alloy for Thixoforming
- Department of Engineering, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH (United Kingdom)
It is known that the introduction of high intensity ultrasonic waves into liquid and solidifying metals leads to a non-dendritic and fine grain structure which is the requirement for semi-solid feedstock production. The effect of vibration time on the semi-solid microstructure of the A201 aluminium alloy billets fabricated with the ultrasonic treatment in the liquid state was studied in this paper. It was observed that the application of ultrasound technology can break up and distribute the dendrites which are present in the as-cast alloy. A suitable thixotropic microstructure with relatively rounded and fine globules could be obtained by ultrasonically treating liquid metal at 690 deg. C for a treatment time of 1 minute, cooling to room temperature and then reheating to the semi-solid state. This shows the ultrasonic treatment could be an economic and alternative route to produce A201 semi-solid feedstock for thixoforming.
- OSTI ID:
- 21516700
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1353, Issue 1; Conference: ESAFORM 2011: 14. international ESAFORM conference on material forming, Belfast, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), 27-29 Apr 2011; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3589657; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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