Al-based TiC particle-reinforced composites with varying TiC concentrations were fabricated through semi-continuous casting.The effects of TiC particles on the alloys’microstructure,grain boundary segregation,and mec...Al-based TiC particle-reinforced composites with varying TiC concentrations were fabricated through semi-continuous casting.The effects of TiC particles on the alloys’microstructure,grain boundary segregation,and mechanical properties were systematically analyzed.Moreover,the mechanisms by which TiC particles contribute to grain refinement,suppression of grain boundary segregation,and enhancement of hardness and wear resistance were discussed.The results demonstrate that TiC particles act as heterogeneous nucleation sites forα-Al within the Al-Cu-Mn alloys,leading to a refinement of grain size.As the TiC particle’s content increases,the grain size of the alloy drops at first and then elevates,transitioning from coarse dendritic crystals to fine equiaxed grains.At a TiC content of 1.3wt.%,the alloy exhibits the smallest grain size,reducing from 139±42μm without TiC to 90±38μm.Beyond this concentration,grain coarsening is observed.The incorporation of TiC particles effectively mitigates Cu segregation at grain boundaries,thereby enhancing the homogeneity of the Al-Cu-Mn matrix alloys.Additionally,the addition of TiC particles promotes hardness and wear resistance.Both hardness and wear resistance exhibit an initial increase followed by a decrease with increasing TiC content from 0 to 1.8wt.%.展开更多
Three-layer composite ingot of 4045/3004/4045 aluminum alloys was prepared by direct-chill semi-continuous casting process,the temperature field distribution near the composite interface,macro-morphology,microstructur...Three-layer composite ingot of 4045/3004/4045 aluminum alloys was prepared by direct-chill semi-continuous casting process,the temperature field distribution near the composite interface,macro-morphology,microstructure and composition distribution of the composite interface were investigated.The results show that semi-solid layer with a certain thickness forms near the interface due to the effect of cooling plate,which ensures successful implementation of casting the composite ingot.Two different aluminum alloys are well bonded metallurgically.The mechanical properties of composite interface were measured,the tensile and shearing strengths of composite interface are 105 and 88 MPa,respectively,which proves that the composite interface is a kind of metallurgical bonding.展开更多
Large-scale Mg-8Gd-4Y-1Zn-Mn(wt.%)alloy ingot with a diameter of 315 mm and a length of 2410 mm was prepared through semi-continuous casting.Chemical composition,microstructure and mechanical properties at different l...Large-scale Mg-8Gd-4Y-1Zn-Mn(wt.%)alloy ingot with a diameter of 315 mm and a length of 2410 mm was prepared through semi-continuous casting.Chemical composition,microstructure and mechanical properties at different locations of the samples with as-cast,T4 and T6 heat-treated states,respectively,were investigated.No obvious macro segregation has been detected in the high-quality alloy ingot.The main eutectic structures at all different locations are composed ofα-Mg,Mg3RE-type,Mg5RE-type and LPSO phases.At the edge of ingot,the unusual casting twins including 10-12 extension twins and 10-11 compression twins were observed due to the intensive internal stress.In T4 heat-treated alloy,the micro segregation was eliminated.The remained phases wereα-Mg and LPSO phase.Combined with the remarkable age-hardening response,T6 samples exhibits improved mechanical properties at ambient temperature,which derives from the dense prismaticβ'precipitates and profuse basalγ'precipitates.展开更多
Under the high-intensity ultrasonic field,AZ80 magnesium alloy was semi-continuously cast.The effects of ultrasonic intensity on the as-cast microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated.The results show...Under the high-intensity ultrasonic field,AZ80 magnesium alloy was semi-continuously cast.The effects of ultrasonic intensity on the as-cast microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated.The results show that the microstructures of the alloy cast under high-intensity ultrasonic field are fine and uniform,and the grains are equiaxed,rose-shaped or globular with an average size of 257μm.High-intensity field significantly decreases the grain size,changes the morphologies of theβ-Mg17Al12 phases and reduces their area fraction.It is also shown that a proper increase in ultrasonic intensity is helpful to obtain fine,uniform and equiaxed as-cast microstructures.The optimum ultrasonic parameters are that frequency is 20 kHz and ultrasonic intensity is 1 368 W.The mechanical tests show that the mechanical properties of the as-cast AZ80 magnesium alloy billets cast under ultrasonic field are greatly improved,and with increasing the ultrasonic intensity,the mechanical properties of the entire alloy billets are much higher and more uniform than those of the alloy without ultrasonic field.展开更多
The microstucture, mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of semi-continuous cast Mg-8Gd- 3Y-0.5Zr （wt.%, GW83K） alloy after different heat treatments were investigated. Almost all the eutectic compounds were ...The microstucture, mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of semi-continuous cast Mg-8Gd- 3Y-0.5Zr （wt.%, GW83K） alloy after different heat treatments were investigated. Almost all the eutectic compounds were dissolved into the matrix and there was no evident grain growth after optimum solution treatment at 500 ~C for 4 h. Further ageing at low temperatures led to significant precipitation hardening, which strengthened the alloy. Peak-aged at 200℃, the alloy had the highest ultimate tensile strength （UTS） and lowest elongation at 395 MPa and 2.8%, respectively. When aged at 225℃ for 15 h, the alloy exhibited prominent mechanical performance with UTS and elongation of 363 MPa and 5.8 %, respectively. With regard to microstructure and tensile properties, the processes of 500℃, 4 h ＋ 225℃, 15 h are selected as the optimal heat treatment conditions. The alloy under different conditions shows different fracture behaviors： in the as-cast alloy, a quasi-cleavage pattern is observed; after solution treatment, the alloy exhibits a trans-granular quasi-cleavage fracture; after being peak-aged at 200℃ and 225℃, the fracture mode is a mixed mode of trans-granular and inter-granular fracture, in which the inter-granular mode is dominant in the alloy peak-aged at 200℃.展开更多
High-performance magnesium alloys are moving towards a trend of being produced on a large scale and in an integrated manner.The foundational key to their successful production is the high-quality cast ingots.Magnesium...High-performance magnesium alloys are moving towards a trend of being produced on a large scale and in an integrated manner.The foundational key to their successful production is the high-quality cast ingots.Magnesium alloys produced through the conventional semi-continuous casting process inevitably contain casting defects,which makes it challenging to manufacture high-quality ingots.The integration of external field assisted controlled solidification technology,which combines physical fields such as electromagnetic and ultrasonic fields with traditional semi-continuous casting processes,enables the production of high-quality magnesium alloy ingots characterized by a homogeneous microstructure and absence of cracks.This article mainly summarizes the technical principles of those external field assisted casting process.The focus is on elaborating the refinement mechanism of different types of electromagnetic fields,ultrasonic fields,and combined physical fields during the solidification of magnesium alloys.Finally,the development prospects of producing highquality magnesium alloy ingots through semi-continuous casting under the external field were discussed.展开更多
The AZ31 alloy ingot with diameter of 110 mm and length of 3500 mm was fabricated successfully. The compositions and microstructure morphologies of the ingot at different locations were performed, which indicated that...The AZ31 alloy ingot with diameter of 110 mm and length of 3500 mm was fabricated successfully. The compositions and microstructure morphologies of the ingot at different locations were performed, which indicated that the chemical composition distributed homogeneously through the whole alloy ingot and the average grain size increased from the surface to the center. The results of the EDS and element face-scanning illustrated that the eutectic compounds mainly consisted of fl-Mg17Al12 and a small amount of fl-Mgl7（AlZn）12. Furthermore, slight improvements of the strength and ductility were observed from the center to the surface along the axial direction of the alloy ingot, while both the strength and elongation to failure of the samples along the radial direction are higher than that along the axial direction. The fine grain strengthening was the main contributors to the strength of the as-casted AZ31 alloy.展开更多
A new composite material consisting of lxxx aluminum alloy and 7xxx aluminum alloy was produced by semi-continuous casting. Macrostructure, microstructure, composition distribution and hardness distribution of composi...A new composite material consisting of lxxx aluminum alloy and 7xxx aluminum alloy was produced by semi-continuous casting. Macrostructure, microstructure, composition distribution and hardness distribution of composite interface were analyzed. Macrostructure shows that composite interface is planar and clean with little evidence of porosity; microstructure shows that composite interface is a kind of metallurgical bonding; composition and hardness distributions have a good corresponding relationship. At the same time, the mechanical property of composite interface was measured, the tensile strength is 71 MPa, the shearing strength is 62 MPa and the bending strength is 142.5 MPa, which can also show that composite interface is a kind of metallurgical bonding. Temperature distribution of composite interface was obtained by measuring temperatures near composite interface in lxxx aluminum alloy.展开更多
The semi-continuous casting of ZK60 magnesium alloy under different middle frequency electromagnetic field conditions was examined.Effects of middle frequency electromagnetic field on microstructure,precipitations and...The semi-continuous casting of ZK60 magnesium alloy under different middle frequency electromagnetic field conditions was examined.Effects of middle frequency electromagnetic field on microstructure,precipitations and tensile properties are investigated.The results show that the microstructures of ZK60 magnesium alloy are refined and distribution uniformity of precipitations is observed after applying the middle frequency electromagnetic field.And the tensile properties of the billets produced by middle frequency electromagnetic field are increased.展开更多
In this study, reheating of liquidus semi-continuous cast billets of 7075 Al alloy was carried out in a resistance furnace, and the temperature contrast of the outer and the center of the reheated billets was investig...In this study, reheating of liquidus semi-continuous cast billets of 7075 Al alloy was carried out in a resistance furnace, and the temperature contrast of the outer and the center of the reheated billets was investigated, then the reheating microstructures were investigated. Results show that: the difference of temperature between the outer and center is small and the difference of their microstructures are also small. During reheating at 576℃ the spheroidization of grains is significant after 5min and no rosettes are visible after 20min by optical microscopy. Similar observations were madeon materials reheated at 596℃, but the ripening process is faster. The grains growup to 30-60μm, fine enough for thixoforming.展开更多
The low frequency electromagnetic field was applied during direct chill(DC) semi-continuous casting of the ZK60 magnesium alloy billets. Effects of low frequency electromagnetic field on surface quality, microstructur...The low frequency electromagnetic field was applied during direct chill(DC) semi-continuous casting of the ZK60 magnesium alloy billets. Effects of low frequency electromagnetic field on surface quality, microstructure and hot-tearing tendency of Φ500 mm ZK60 magnesium alloy billets were investigated. The results showed that with the application of the low frequency electromagnetic field, the surface quality of the ZK60 magnesium alloy billets is markedly improved and the depth of cold fold is decreased. The microstructure of the billets is also significantly refined. Besides, the distribution of the grain size is relatively uniform from the billet surface towards its center, where the average grain size is 42 μm at surface and 50 μm at center. It also shows that the hot-tearing tendency of DC semi-continuous casting ZK60 magnesium alloy billets is significantly reduced under low frequency electromagnetic field.展开更多
AZ31 alloy billets of 200 mm in diameter were produced by three different processes of conventional direct chill （DC） casting, low-frequency electromagnetic casting （LFEC） and low-frequency electromagnetic vibrati...AZ31 alloy billets of 200 mm in diameter were produced by three different processes of conventional direct chill （DC） casting, low-frequency electromagnetic casting （LFEC） and low-frequency electromagnetic vibration casting （LFEVC）, respectively. The effect of LFEC and LFEVC on the microstructures, macmsegregation and mechanical properties of AZ31 alloy billets was investigated. In conventional DC casting, the AZ31 alloy billets exhibited coarse grains （about 370 μa） and severe segregation of A1 and Zn. In the presence of a solo low-frequency alternating magnetic field or a low-frequency electromagnetic vibration field applied during DC casting of Ф200 mm AZ31 billets, grains in the AZ31 alloy billets were effectively reffmed （about 210 μa） and the macrosegregation of A1 and Zn in the billets was greatly decreased. Furthermore, the tensile strength, fracture elongation and hardness of the as-cast AZ31 alloy billets were improved by the processes of LFEC and LFEVC relative to that cast by the process of conventional DC casting.展开更多
A low-clad-ratio AA4045/AA3003 cladding billet was fabricated using a semi-continuous casting process and was subsequently extruded indirectly into a cladding pipe. The temperature distribution near the interface was ...A low-clad-ratio AA4045/AA3003 cladding billet was fabricated using a semi-continuous casting process and was subsequently extruded indirectly into a cladding pipe. The temperature distribution near the interface was measured. The microstructures, elemental distribution, Vickers hardness around the bonding interface, and the interfacial shear strength were examined. The results showed that the interface temperature rebounded when AA4045 melt contacted the supporting layer. The two alloys bonded well, with few defects, via the diffusion of Si and Mn in the temperature range from 569℃ to 632℃. The mean shear strength of the bonding interface was 82.3 MPa, which was greater than that of AA3003（75.8 MPa）, indicating that the two alloys bonded with each other metallurgically via elemental interdiffusion. Moreover, no relative slip occurred between the two alloys during the extrusion process.展开更多
Cooling heat flux effect in both primary and secondary cooling zone has been studied in semi-continuous casting of copper billet. Sufficient cooling is essential to reduce casting defects and to get high productivity,...Cooling heat flux effect in both primary and secondary cooling zone has been studied in semi-continuous casting of copper billet. Sufficient cooling is essential to reduce casting defects and to get high productivity, however low rate of solidification is aimed in order to get coarser grain size and softer metal for less losses in extrusion. A three-dimensional numerical model has been developed including solidification behavior of copper through mushy zone. At steady state and constant casting speed, solid shell thickness is monitored during the reduction of cooling rate at mould region to avoid breaking out. Heat flux intensity at mould plays important role not only in the formation of solid shell thickness. But, pool length and mushy zone thickness can be significantly increased by decreasing primary cooling intensity. Increase intensity of secondary cooling zone for two particular cases of primary cooling is tested. First case is tested at mould inlet water temperature of 38°C, and second case at water temperature of 63°C. Results showed that the combination of increasing secondary cooling intensity and reduction of primary cooling intensity can increase pool length and mushy zone thickness. Also, it is shown that, secondary cooling intensity can be magnified by up to 1.5 times for cooling water temperature of 63°C to get pool length close to that of water temperature of 38°C.展开更多
To develop a suitable production process for fiber reinforced investment casting shell mold,three methods were studied:the traditional method(M_(1)),the method of adding fiber into silica sol with mechanical stirring ...To develop a suitable production process for fiber reinforced investment casting shell mold,three methods were studied:the traditional method(M_(1)),the method of adding fiber into silica sol with mechanical stirring and ultrasonic agitation(M_(2)),and the method of adding fiber into slurry with mechanical stirring and ultrasonic agitation for durations of 3,15,30,and 45 min(M_(3)).The bending strength,high-temperature self-load deformation,and thermal conductivity of the shell molds were investigated.The results reveal that the enhancement of fiber dispersion through ultrasonic agitation improves the comprehensive performance of the shell molds.The maximum green bending strength of the shell mold by M_(2) reaches 3.29 MPa,which is 29% higher than that of the shell mold prepared by M_(1).Moreover,the high-temperature self-load deformation of the shell mold is reduced from 0.62% to 0.44%.In addition,simultaneous ultrasonic agitation and mechanical stirring effectively shorten the slurry preparation time while maintaining comparable levels of fiber dispersion.With the process M_(3)-45 min,the fillers are uniformly dispersed in the slurry,and the fired bending strength and the high-temperature self-load deformation reach 6.25 MPa and 0.41%,respectively.Therefore,the proposed ultrasonic agitation route is promising for the fabrication of fiber-reinforced shell molds with excellent fibers dispersion.展开更多
The Cu-12Fe alloy has attracted significant attention due to its excellent electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding capability,high strength,cost-effectiveness,and recyclability.In the present work,the Cu...The Cu-12Fe alloy has attracted significant attention due to its excellent electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding capability,high strength,cost-effectiveness,and recyclability.In the present work,the Cu-12Fe alloy strip with the thickness of 2.4 mm was successfully produced by twin-roll strip casting.The microstructure and properties of the Cu-12Fe alloy were tailored by cold rolling and aging treatment.The tensile strength of the as-cast strip is approximately 328 MPa and its elongation is 25%.The Fe phase randomly dispersed in the matrix,and the average size of Fe-rich phase is 2μm.Besides,enrichment of Fe phase is observed in the central layer of the strip,results in the formation of the“sandwich structure”.Moreover,the as-cast strip of Cu-12Fe was directly cold-rolled from 2.4 to 0.12 mm.The directly cold-rolled sample after aging at 450℃for 16 h(ProcessⅠ)shows excellent electrical conductivity of 69.5%IACS,the tensile strength and elongation are 513 MPa and 3.8%,the saturation magnetic flux density is 20.1 emu·g^(-1),and the coercive force is 25.2 Oe.In ProcessⅡ,the as-cast strip firstly cold-rolled to 1.2 mm,then aged at 500℃for 1.5 h,followed by cold rolling to 0.12 mm,finally aged at 450℃for 16 h.The sample after ProcessⅡshows the electrical conductivity of 66.3%IACS,the tensile strength of 533 MPa,an elongation of 3.5%,saturation magnetic flux density of 21.4 emu·g^(-1),and the coercive force of 22.3 Oe.展开更多
The effects of the high pressure die casting(HPDC)processes on porosity,microstructure,and mechanical properties of heat-treatment-free aluminum silicon(Al-Si)alloys have long been a focal point in automotive die-cast...The effects of the high pressure die casting(HPDC)processes on porosity,microstructure,and mechanical properties of heat-treatment-free aluminum silicon(Al-Si)alloys have long been a focal point in automotive die-casting research.In this work,the combined effect of shot sleeve materials and slow shot speeds on porosity,microstructure and mechanical properties of a newly designed HPDC Al-Si alloy was investigated.Results show that employing a ceramic shot sleeve or increasing the slow shot speed significantly reduces both the average size and area fraction of externally solidified crystals(ESCs),as well as the average pore size and volume fraction.When the slow shot speed is increased from 0.05 m·s^(-1)to 0.1 m·s^(-1),the pore volume fraction decreases by 10.2%in steel-shot-sleeve samples,compared to a substantial 67.1%reduction in ceramic-shot-sleeve samples.At a slow shot speed of 0.1 m·s^(-1),castings produced with a ceramic shot sleeve exhibit superior mechanical properties:8.3%higher yield strength,17.4%greater tensile strength,and an 81.4%improvement in elongation,relative to those from a steel shot sleeve.These findings provide valuable insights for minimizing porosity and coarse ESCs in die castings,offering promising potential for broader industrial applications.展开更多
Automation and intelligence have become the primary trends in the design of investment casting processes.However,the design of gating and riser systems still lacks precise quantitative evaluation criteria.Numerical si...Automation and intelligence have become the primary trends in the design of investment casting processes.However,the design of gating and riser systems still lacks precise quantitative evaluation criteria.Numerical simulation plays a significant role in quantitatively evaluating current processes and making targeted improvements,but its limitations lie in the inability to dynamically reflect the formation outcomes of castings under varying process conditions,making real-time adjustments to gating and riser designs challenging.In this study,an automated design model for gating and riser systems based on integrated parametric 3D modeling-simulation framework is proposed,which enhances the flexibility and usability of evaluating the casting process by simulation.Firstly,geometric feature extraction technology is employed to obtain the geometric information of the target casting.Based on this information,an automated design framework for gating and riser systems is established,incorporating multiple structural parameters for real-time process control.Subsequently,the simulation results for various structural parameters are analyzed,and the influence of these parameters on casting formation is thoroughly investigated.Finally,the optimal design scheme is generated and validated through experimental verification.Simulation analysis and experimental results show that using a larger gate neck(24 mm in side length) and external risers promotes a more uniform temperature distribution and a more stable flow state,effectively eliminating shrinkage cavities and enhancing process yield by 15%.展开更多
In order to investigate the effect of die wall thickness on morphologies of defect band,a stepped mold with a wall thickness of 5 mm,4 mm,3 mm,2 mm,and 1 mm was designed to carry out high pressure die casting experime...In order to investigate the effect of die wall thickness on morphologies of defect band,a stepped mold with a wall thickness of 5 mm,4 mm,3 mm,2 mm,and 1 mm was designed to carry out high pressure die casting experiments with AlSi10 MgMn alloy.For castings with wall thickness of 2-4 mm,the ratio of the mean defect band width(w)and mean grain size(d)in the defect band(w/d)ranges 7-18,while it increases to 24.47 for the 5 mm-thick casting.This difference is related with the filling speed and the distribution of externally solidified crystals(ESCs).The mold flow analysis indicates that the filling speed decreases from 25.41 m·s^(-1)to 11.07 m·s^(-1)when wall thickness increases from 2 mm to 5 mm.Due to the decreasing filling speed along the wall thickness,ESCs gradually diffuse from the center to the defect band,which keep the shear strength in the defect band at a high-level during filling.Meanwhile,the shear strength generated during the filling also decreases as the shear rate drops.Finally,the defect bands in the 5 mm-thick region become widen and indistinct,and the porosity is as high as 5.25%.展开更多
基金supported by the Advanced Materials-National Science and Technology Major Project(Grant No.2025ZD0611400).
文摘Al-based TiC particle-reinforced composites with varying TiC concentrations were fabricated through semi-continuous casting.The effects of TiC particles on the alloys’microstructure,grain boundary segregation,and mechanical properties were systematically analyzed.Moreover,the mechanisms by which TiC particles contribute to grain refinement,suppression of grain boundary segregation,and enhancement of hardness and wear resistance were discussed.The results demonstrate that TiC particles act as heterogeneous nucleation sites forα-Al within the Al-Cu-Mn alloys,leading to a refinement of grain size.As the TiC particle’s content increases,the grain size of the alloy drops at first and then elevates,transitioning from coarse dendritic crystals to fine equiaxed grains.At a TiC content of 1.3wt.%,the alloy exhibits the smallest grain size,reducing from 139±42μm without TiC to 90±38μm.Beyond this concentration,grain coarsening is observed.The incorporation of TiC particles effectively mitigates Cu segregation at grain boundaries,thereby enhancing the homogeneity of the Al-Cu-Mn matrix alloys.Additionally,the addition of TiC particles promotes hardness and wear resistance.Both hardness and wear resistance exhibit an initial increase followed by a decrease with increasing TiC content from 0 to 1.8wt.%.
基金Project (2005CB623707) supported by the National Basic Research Program of China
文摘Three-layer composite ingot of 4045/3004/4045 aluminum alloys was prepared by direct-chill semi-continuous casting process,the temperature field distribution near the composite interface,macro-morphology,microstructure and composition distribution of the composite interface were investigated.The results show that semi-solid layer with a certain thickness forms near the interface due to the effect of cooling plate,which ensures successful implementation of casting the composite ingot.Two different aluminum alloys are well bonded metallurgically.The mechanical properties of composite interface were measured,the tensile and shearing strengths of composite interface are 105 and 88 MPa,respectively,which proves that the composite interface is a kind of metallurgical bonding.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFB0301100)the Natural Science Foundation Commission of China(Nos.51571044 and 51874062)+2 种基金the Chongqing foundation and advanced research project(No.cstc2019jcyjzdxmX0010)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.2018CDGFCL0005 and 2019CDXYCL0031)the financial support from the China Scholarship Council(No.201906050113)。
文摘Large-scale Mg-8Gd-4Y-1Zn-Mn(wt.%)alloy ingot with a diameter of 315 mm and a length of 2410 mm was prepared through semi-continuous casting.Chemical composition,microstructure and mechanical properties at different locations of the samples with as-cast,T4 and T6 heat-treated states,respectively,were investigated.No obvious macro segregation has been detected in the high-quality alloy ingot.The main eutectic structures at all different locations are composed ofα-Mg,Mg3RE-type,Mg5RE-type and LPSO phases.At the edge of ingot,the unusual casting twins including 10-12 extension twins and 10-11 compression twins were observed due to the intensive internal stress.In T4 heat-treated alloy,the micro segregation was eliminated.The remained phases wereα-Mg and LPSO phase.Combined with the remarkable age-hardening response,T6 samples exhibits improved mechanical properties at ambient temperature,which derives from the dense prismaticβ'precipitates and profuse basalγ'precipitates.
基金Projects(2007CB613701,2007CB613702)supported by the National Basic Research Program of ChinaProjects(50974037,50904018)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+1 种基金Project(NCET-08-0098)supported by New Century Excellent Talents in University of ChinaProjects(N09040902,N090209002)supported by the Special Foundation for Basic Scientific Research of Central Colleges
文摘Under the high-intensity ultrasonic field,AZ80 magnesium alloy was semi-continuously cast.The effects of ultrasonic intensity on the as-cast microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated.The results show that the microstructures of the alloy cast under high-intensity ultrasonic field are fine and uniform,and the grains are equiaxed,rose-shaped or globular with an average size of 257μm.High-intensity field significantly decreases the grain size,changes the morphologies of theβ-Mg17Al12 phases and reduces their area fraction.It is also shown that a proper increase in ultrasonic intensity is helpful to obtain fine,uniform and equiaxed as-cast microstructures.The optimum ultrasonic parameters are that frequency is 20 kHz and ultrasonic intensity is 1 368 W.The mechanical tests show that the mechanical properties of the as-cast AZ80 magnesium alloy billets cast under ultrasonic field are greatly improved,and with increasing the ultrasonic intensity,the mechanical properties of the entire alloy billets are much higher and more uniform than those of the alloy without ultrasonic field.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51074106)the National Key Technology R&D Program of China(2011BAE22B01-5)
文摘The microstucture, mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of semi-continuous cast Mg-8Gd- 3Y-0.5Zr （wt.%, GW83K） alloy after different heat treatments were investigated. Almost all the eutectic compounds were dissolved into the matrix and there was no evident grain growth after optimum solution treatment at 500 ~C for 4 h. Further ageing at low temperatures led to significant precipitation hardening, which strengthened the alloy. Peak-aged at 200℃, the alloy had the highest ultimate tensile strength （UTS） and lowest elongation at 395 MPa and 2.8%, respectively. When aged at 225℃ for 15 h, the alloy exhibited prominent mechanical performance with UTS and elongation of 363 MPa and 5.8 %, respectively. With regard to microstructure and tensile properties, the processes of 500℃, 4 h ＋ 225℃, 15 h are selected as the optimal heat treatment conditions. The alloy under different conditions shows different fracture behaviors： in the as-cast alloy, a quasi-cleavage pattern is observed; after solution treatment, the alloy exhibits a trans-granular quasi-cleavage fracture; after being peak-aged at 200℃ and 225℃, the fracture mode is a mixed mode of trans-granular and inter-granular fracture, in which the inter-granular mode is dominant in the alloy peak-aged at 200℃.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52274377 and No.52304391)the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(No.2023-MSBA-133)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.N2402010).
文摘High-performance magnesium alloys are moving towards a trend of being produced on a large scale and in an integrated manner.The foundational key to their successful production is the high-quality cast ingots.Magnesium alloys produced through the conventional semi-continuous casting process inevitably contain casting defects,which makes it challenging to manufacture high-quality ingots.The integration of external field assisted controlled solidification technology,which combines physical fields such as electromagnetic and ultrasonic fields with traditional semi-continuous casting processes,enables the production of high-quality magnesium alloy ingots characterized by a homogeneous microstructure and absence of cracks.This article mainly summarizes the technical principles of those external field assisted casting process.The focus is on elaborating the refinement mechanism of different types of electromagnetic fields,ultrasonic fields,and combined physical fields during the solidification of magnesium alloys.Finally,the development prospects of producing highquality magnesium alloy ingots through semi-continuous casting under the external field were discussed.
基金Project(2010A090200078)supported by the Special Foundation Project of Industry,University and Research Institute Collaboration of Guangdong Provincial Government and the Ministry of Education,ChinaProject(2010B090500010)supported by the Special Commissioners’ Workstation Construction Project of Guangdong Provincial Government,China
文摘The AZ31 alloy ingot with diameter of 110 mm and length of 3500 mm was fabricated successfully. The compositions and microstructure morphologies of the ingot at different locations were performed, which indicated that the chemical composition distributed homogeneously through the whole alloy ingot and the average grain size increased from the surface to the center. The results of the EDS and element face-scanning illustrated that the eutectic compounds mainly consisted of fl-Mg17Al12 and a small amount of fl-Mgl7（AlZn）12. Furthermore, slight improvements of the strength and ductility were observed from the center to the surface along the axial direction of the alloy ingot, while both the strength and elongation to failure of the samples along the radial direction are higher than that along the axial direction. The fine grain strengthening was the main contributors to the strength of the as-casted AZ31 alloy.
基金supported by Major State Basic Research Project of China (GrantNo.2005CB623707)
文摘A new composite material consisting of lxxx aluminum alloy and 7xxx aluminum alloy was produced by semi-continuous casting. Macrostructure, microstructure, composition distribution and hardness distribution of composite interface were analyzed. Macrostructure shows that composite interface is planar and clean with little evidence of porosity; microstructure shows that composite interface is a kind of metallurgical bonding; composition and hardness distributions have a good corresponding relationship. At the same time, the mechanical property of composite interface was measured, the tensile strength is 71 MPa, the shearing strength is 62 MPa and the bending strength is 142.5 MPa, which can also show that composite interface is a kind of metallurgical bonding. Temperature distribution of composite interface was obtained by measuring temperatures near composite interface in lxxx aluminum alloy.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)(No.50475157)the Key Fund of NSFC (No.50234022)the Key Project of Ministry of Education of China (No.105052)
文摘The semi-continuous casting of ZK60 magnesium alloy under different middle frequency electromagnetic field conditions was examined.Effects of middle frequency electromagnetic field on microstructure,precipitations and tensile properties are investigated.The results show that the microstructures of ZK60 magnesium alloy are refined and distribution uniformity of precipitations is observed after applying the middle frequency electromagnetic field.And the tensile properties of the billets produced by middle frequency electromagnetic field are increased.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 59974009) is greatly acknowledged for their financial support.
文摘In this study, reheating of liquidus semi-continuous cast billets of 7075 Al alloy was carried out in a resistance furnace, and the temperature contrast of the outer and the center of the reheated billets was investigated, then the reheating microstructures were investigated. Results show that: the difference of temperature between the outer and center is small and the difference of their microstructures are also small. During reheating at 576℃ the spheroidization of grains is significant after 5min and no rosettes are visible after 20min by optical microscopy. Similar observations were madeon materials reheated at 596℃, but the ripening process is faster. The grains growup to 30-60μm, fine enough for thixoforming.
基金financially supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China(Grant No.2013CB632203)the Liaoning Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.201202072)+1 种基金the Program for Liaoning Excellent Talents in University(Grant No.LJQ2012023)the Fundamental Research Foundation of Central Universities(Grant Nos.N120509002 and N120309003)
文摘The low frequency electromagnetic field was applied during direct chill(DC) semi-continuous casting of the ZK60 magnesium alloy billets. Effects of low frequency electromagnetic field on surface quality, microstructure and hot-tearing tendency of Φ500 mm ZK60 magnesium alloy billets were investigated. The results showed that with the application of the low frequency electromagnetic field, the surface quality of the ZK60 magnesium alloy billets is markedly improved and the depth of cold fold is decreased. The microstructure of the billets is also significantly refined. Besides, the distribution of the grain size is relatively uniform from the billet surface towards its center, where the average grain size is 42 μm at surface and 50 μm at center. It also shows that the hot-tearing tendency of DC semi-continuous casting ZK60 magnesium alloy billets is significantly reduced under low frequency electromagnetic field.
基金supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (Nos. 2007CB613701 and 2007CB613702)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 50904018, 51004032 and 50974037)+2 种基金the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Chinese Universities (No. NCET-08-0098)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (Nos. N090409002 and N090209002)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 20100471468)
文摘AZ31 alloy billets of 200 mm in diameter were produced by three different processes of conventional direct chill （DC） casting, low-frequency electromagnetic casting （LFEC） and low-frequency electromagnetic vibration casting （LFEVC）, respectively. The effect of LFEC and LFEVC on the microstructures, macmsegregation and mechanical properties of AZ31 alloy billets was investigated. In conventional DC casting, the AZ31 alloy billets exhibited coarse grains （about 370 μa） and severe segregation of A1 and Zn. In the presence of a solo low-frequency alternating magnetic field or a low-frequency electromagnetic vibration field applied during DC casting of Ф200 mm AZ31 billets, grains in the AZ31 alloy billets were effectively reffmed （about 210 μa） and the macrosegregation of A1 and Zn in the billets was greatly decreased. Furthermore, the tensile strength, fracture elongation and hardness of the as-cast AZ31 alloy billets were improved by the processes of LFEC and LFEVC relative to that cast by the process of conventional DC casting.
基金the support of the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou, China (No.2015B090926013)the doctoral foundation of the China Ministry of Education (No.20130042130001)
文摘A low-clad-ratio AA4045/AA3003 cladding billet was fabricated using a semi-continuous casting process and was subsequently extruded indirectly into a cladding pipe. The temperature distribution near the interface was measured. The microstructures, elemental distribution, Vickers hardness around the bonding interface, and the interfacial shear strength were examined. The results showed that the interface temperature rebounded when AA4045 melt contacted the supporting layer. The two alloys bonded well, with few defects, via the diffusion of Si and Mn in the temperature range from 569℃ to 632℃. The mean shear strength of the bonding interface was 82.3 MPa, which was greater than that of AA3003（75.8 MPa）, indicating that the two alloys bonded with each other metallurgically via elemental interdiffusion. Moreover, no relative slip occurred between the two alloys during the extrusion process.
基金This work is partially supported from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council(NSERC)of Canada Discovery Grant RGPIN48158 awarded to M.Hasan of McGill University,Montreal,for which the authors are grateful.
文摘Cooling heat flux effect in both primary and secondary cooling zone has been studied in semi-continuous casting of copper billet. Sufficient cooling is essential to reduce casting defects and to get high productivity, however low rate of solidification is aimed in order to get coarser grain size and softer metal for less losses in extrusion. A three-dimensional numerical model has been developed including solidification behavior of copper through mushy zone. At steady state and constant casting speed, solid shell thickness is monitored during the reduction of cooling rate at mould region to avoid breaking out. Heat flux intensity at mould plays important role not only in the formation of solid shell thickness. But, pool length and mushy zone thickness can be significantly increased by decreasing primary cooling intensity. Increase intensity of secondary cooling zone for two particular cases of primary cooling is tested. First case is tested at mould inlet water temperature of 38°C, and second case at water temperature of 63°C. Results showed that the combination of increasing secondary cooling intensity and reduction of primary cooling intensity can increase pool length and mushy zone thickness. Also, it is shown that, secondary cooling intensity can be magnified by up to 1.5 times for cooling water temperature of 63°C to get pool length close to that of water temperature of 38°C.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 5186504)the University Science Foundation for Young Science and Technology Talents in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China (Grant No. NJYT22078)+2 种基金the Basic Scientific Research Expenses Program of Universities directly under Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Grant No. JY20220059)the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region ‘Grassland Talent’ project Young Innovative Talent Training Program Level ⅠBasic Research Expenses of Universities directly under the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Grant No. ZTY2023040)。
文摘To develop a suitable production process for fiber reinforced investment casting shell mold,three methods were studied:the traditional method(M_(1)),the method of adding fiber into silica sol with mechanical stirring and ultrasonic agitation(M_(2)),and the method of adding fiber into slurry with mechanical stirring and ultrasonic agitation for durations of 3,15,30,and 45 min(M_(3)).The bending strength,high-temperature self-load deformation,and thermal conductivity of the shell molds were investigated.The results reveal that the enhancement of fiber dispersion through ultrasonic agitation improves the comprehensive performance of the shell molds.The maximum green bending strength of the shell mold by M_(2) reaches 3.29 MPa,which is 29% higher than that of the shell mold prepared by M_(1).Moreover,the high-temperature self-load deformation of the shell mold is reduced from 0.62% to 0.44%.In addition,simultaneous ultrasonic agitation and mechanical stirring effectively shorten the slurry preparation time while maintaining comparable levels of fiber dispersion.With the process M_(3)-45 min,the fillers are uniformly dispersed in the slurry,and the fired bending strength and the high-temperature self-load deformation reach 6.25 MPa and 0.41%,respectively.Therefore,the proposed ultrasonic agitation route is promising for the fabrication of fiber-reinforced shell molds with excellent fibers dispersion.
基金financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province of China(2022-MS-109)the Key Research and Development Program of Liaoning Province(2023JH2/101800045)the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Peoples Republic of China(ZZ2021006).
文摘The Cu-12Fe alloy has attracted significant attention due to its excellent electrical conductivity and electromagnetic shielding capability,high strength,cost-effectiveness,and recyclability.In the present work,the Cu-12Fe alloy strip with the thickness of 2.4 mm was successfully produced by twin-roll strip casting.The microstructure and properties of the Cu-12Fe alloy were tailored by cold rolling and aging treatment.The tensile strength of the as-cast strip is approximately 328 MPa and its elongation is 25%.The Fe phase randomly dispersed in the matrix,and the average size of Fe-rich phase is 2μm.Besides,enrichment of Fe phase is observed in the central layer of the strip,results in the formation of the“sandwich structure”.Moreover,the as-cast strip of Cu-12Fe was directly cold-rolled from 2.4 to 0.12 mm.The directly cold-rolled sample after aging at 450℃for 16 h(ProcessⅠ)shows excellent electrical conductivity of 69.5%IACS,the tensile strength and elongation are 513 MPa and 3.8%,the saturation magnetic flux density is 20.1 emu·g^(-1),and the coercive force is 25.2 Oe.In ProcessⅡ,the as-cast strip firstly cold-rolled to 1.2 mm,then aged at 500℃for 1.5 h,followed by cold rolling to 0.12 mm,finally aged at 450℃for 16 h.The sample after ProcessⅡshows the electrical conductivity of 66.3%IACS,the tensile strength of 533 MPa,an elongation of 3.5%,saturation magnetic flux density of 21.4 emu·g^(-1),and the coercive force of 22.3 Oe.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFB3404201)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52175335,52405342)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation Joint Foundation of Liaoning province(Grant No.2023-B SB A-108)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.N2402005)。
文摘The effects of the high pressure die casting(HPDC)processes on porosity,microstructure,and mechanical properties of heat-treatment-free aluminum silicon(Al-Si)alloys have long been a focal point in automotive die-casting research.In this work,the combined effect of shot sleeve materials and slow shot speeds on porosity,microstructure and mechanical properties of a newly designed HPDC Al-Si alloy was investigated.Results show that employing a ceramic shot sleeve or increasing the slow shot speed significantly reduces both the average size and area fraction of externally solidified crystals(ESCs),as well as the average pore size and volume fraction.When the slow shot speed is increased from 0.05 m·s^(-1)to 0.1 m·s^(-1),the pore volume fraction decreases by 10.2%in steel-shot-sleeve samples,compared to a substantial 67.1%reduction in ceramic-shot-sleeve samples.At a slow shot speed of 0.1 m·s^(-1),castings produced with a ceramic shot sleeve exhibit superior mechanical properties:8.3%higher yield strength,17.4%greater tensile strength,and an 81.4%improvement in elongation,relative to those from a steel shot sleeve.These findings provide valuable insights for minimizing porosity and coarse ESCs in die castings,offering promising potential for broader industrial applications.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFB3706802)。
文摘Automation and intelligence have become the primary trends in the design of investment casting processes.However,the design of gating and riser systems still lacks precise quantitative evaluation criteria.Numerical simulation plays a significant role in quantitatively evaluating current processes and making targeted improvements,but its limitations lie in the inability to dynamically reflect the formation outcomes of castings under varying process conditions,making real-time adjustments to gating and riser designs challenging.In this study,an automated design model for gating and riser systems based on integrated parametric 3D modeling-simulation framework is proposed,which enhances the flexibility and usability of evaluating the casting process by simulation.Firstly,geometric feature extraction technology is employed to obtain the geometric information of the target casting.Based on this information,an automated design framework for gating and riser systems is established,incorporating multiple structural parameters for real-time process control.Subsequently,the simulation results for various structural parameters are analyzed,and the influence of these parameters on casting formation is thoroughly investigated.Finally,the optimal design scheme is generated and validated through experimental verification.Simulation analysis and experimental results show that using a larger gate neck(24 mm in side length) and external risers promotes a more uniform temperature distribution and a more stable flow state,effectively eliminating shrinkage cavities and enhancing process yield by 15%.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52474396 and 52175284)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFB3404201)。
文摘In order to investigate the effect of die wall thickness on morphologies of defect band,a stepped mold with a wall thickness of 5 mm,4 mm,3 mm,2 mm,and 1 mm was designed to carry out high pressure die casting experiments with AlSi10 MgMn alloy.For castings with wall thickness of 2-4 mm,the ratio of the mean defect band width(w)and mean grain size(d)in the defect band(w/d)ranges 7-18,while it increases to 24.47 for the 5 mm-thick casting.This difference is related with the filling speed and the distribution of externally solidified crystals(ESCs).The mold flow analysis indicates that the filling speed decreases from 25.41 m·s^(-1)to 11.07 m·s^(-1)when wall thickness increases from 2 mm to 5 mm.Due to the decreasing filling speed along the wall thickness,ESCs gradually diffuse from the center to the defect band,which keep the shear strength in the defect band at a high-level during filling.Meanwhile,the shear strength generated during the filling also decreases as the shear rate drops.Finally,the defect bands in the 5 mm-thick region become widen and indistinct,and the porosity is as high as 5.25%.
