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Special Issue "Semisolid Processing and Squeeze Casting of Alloys and Composites"

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Metals and Alloys".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2023 | Viewed by 2985

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jufu Jiang

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Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Interests: semisolid processing of alloys and composites; squeeze casting of alloys and composites; compounding forming by combining casting and forging

Prof. Dr. Gang Chen
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, China
Interests: semisolid processing of aluminum alloys; squeeze casting of alloys and composites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Semisolid processing (SSP) and squeeze casting (SC) are two typical near-net-shape technologies for forming of alloys and composites. They have been widely used in the automotive, motorcycle, aerospace, weapons, and 3C fields due to their low resistance to deformation, short processing time, and low cost. A large number of materials have been used in semisolid processing and squeeze casting, which include aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, superalloys, steel, copper alloys, titanium alloys, and iron as well as their composites. In addition to casting alloys, wrought alloys are also used in semisolid processing and squeeze casting. This indicates that semisolid processing and squeeze casting have a wide range of applications in the field of materials. Semisolid processing involves fabrication of semisolid slurry and forming in the semisolid state. Squeeze casting is defined as a process in which liquid metal is poured (or injected) into a die cavity and solidified under a high pressure. Though there are some differences between these two technologies, they also have some obvious similarities. For example, in semisolid processing, the typical technology is referred to as semisolid squeeze casting, in which a semisolid slurry is used in squeeze casting. The typical and similar characteristics of these two technologies include solidification of liquid metal under high pressure and plastic deformation of the solid phase.

Energy conservation and emission reduction are also important factors to consider in the forming technologies of alloy and composite and, therefore, short processes of low cost are favored. Semisolid processing and squeeze casting have exhibited some obvious advantages, such as enabling near net shape and being a short process of low cost compared to the conventional casting and forging technologies. Given the urgent need for energy conservation and emission reduction in industrial manufacture, the applications of semisolid processing and squeeze casting are able to extend into the automotive, motorcycle, aerospace, weapons, and 3C fields.

Semisolid processing and squeeze casting depend on the optimization of microstructure and properties, numerical simulation of processes, and the development of new materials. This Special Issue aims to cover recent progress and new developments in the relationships between the microstructures and mechanical properties of products formed by SSP or SC. All aspects related to SSP or SC, semisolid slurry fabrication, rheoforming and thixoforming, physical and numerical simulation of SSP and SC, process optimization of squeeze casting, and heat treatment of products formed by SSP and SC are of interest. Submissions of full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Jufu Jiang
Prof. Dr. Gang Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

semisolid processing
squeeze casting
microstructure evolution
properties optimization
rheoforming
thixoforming
fabrication of semisolid slurry
numerical simulation
heat treatment

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr Alloys: Effects of Time and Temperature on Two-Stage Solution Treatment and Ageing

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Materials 2023, 16(7), 2675; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072675 - 28 Mar 2023

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Abstract

Ameliorating the high-temperature performance of cast Al-Si alloys used as engine components is essential. The effects of different T6 heat-treatment processes on the microstructure and mechanical properties of cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni-Cr alloys were investigated in the present study. The results demonstrate that, under the optimal solution treatment conditions of 500 °C for 2 h and 540 °C for 4 h, the T-Al₉FeNi phase was present in the alloy, and the roundness of primary Si and the aspect ratio of eutectic Si in the alloy reached valley values of 1.46 and 2.56, respectively. With increasing ageing time at 180 °C, the tensile strength significantly improved, while the microhardness first increased and then decreased. When the ageing time was 4 h, microhardness reached a peak value of 155.82 HV. The fracture characteristics changed from quasi-cleavage to the coexistence of quasi-cleavage and dimples. After heat treatment, the high-temperature tensile properties of the alloy improved, which is a significant advantage compared to the as-cast alloy. The stable Al₃Ni and Al₉FeNi phases inhibited the cracking of the alloy at 350 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semisolid Processing and Squeeze Casting of Alloys and Composites)

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Open AccessArticle

Influence of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Basicity on Viscosity and Structure of High Titanium-Bearing Blast Furnace Slag

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Materials 2023, 16(7), 2575; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072575 - 24 Mar 2023

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Abstract

The viscosity of high-titanium blast furnace slag with different TiO₂ content, Al₂O₃ content, and basicity was measured at 1653–1773 K using the rotational cylinder method. The phase composition of the slag is measured by XRD. Phase diagram of the slags is calculated by FactSage software. Ionic network structure of the slags is analyzed by FT–IR. Results show that TiO₂ depolymerizes the silicate network structure, reducing viscosity at high temperature, while increasing Al₂O₃ content generates a more complicated silicate, increasing viscosity. Basicity affects viscosity, with higher basicity resulting in lower viscosity above 1733 K. Perovskite significantly affects the viscosity of slag. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the relationship between the composition and viscosity of high-titanium blast furnace slag, which is very important for improving production efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semisolid Processing and Squeeze Casting of Alloys and Composites)

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Open AccessArticle

Effect of Solution Temperature on Microstructure and Properties of Thixotropic Back-Extruded Tin–Bronze Shaft Sleeve

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Materials 2022, 15(15), 5254; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15155254 - 29 Jul 2022

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Abstract

To study the heat-treatment process of a semi-solid copper alloy, a thixotropic back-extruded tin–bronze shaft sleeve was heat-treated at 630 °C, 660 °C, 690 °C and 720 °C for 1 h, respectively. Microstructure changes and mechanical properties under different solution temperatures of shaft sleeve were characterized using a metallographic microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), hardness tester, and tensile tester. The results show that the tensile strength first increases and then decreases; the elongation decreases; and the Brinell hardness increases gradually with increasing solution temperature. When the solution treatment is at 690 °C, the tin–bronze shaft sleeve’s microstructure and comprehensive mechanical properties are the best. The shape factor is 0.75, the average grain size is 82.52 μm, the Brinell hardness is 122 HBW, the tensile strength is 437 MPa, and the elongation is 17.4%, which is 3.4 times higher than that before solution treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semisolid Processing and Squeeze Casting of Alloys and Composites)

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Open AccessArticle

The Precipitation Behavior of a Cu-Ni-Si Alloy with Cr Addition Prepared by Heating-Cooling Combined Mold (HCCM) Continuous Casting

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Materials 2022, 15(13), 4521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15134521 - 27 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 778

Abstract

A Cu-Ni-Si alloy containing (Ni + Si) ≥ 5 wt.%, with the addition of Cr, is fabricated by HCCM continuous casting and two steps of aging treatment. The evolution of the microstructures and precipitations, as well as the effect of Cr atoms, is studied in this paper. An excellent combination of mechanical property (hardness HV 250–270) and electrical conductivity (46–47 %IACS) is obtained by the first step aging at 500 °C for 0.25 h and the second step aging at 450 °C for 1 h. The cold rolling and aging process are directly conducted on the solution treated specimens fabricated by HCCM continuous casting process without hot deformation, since the excellent homogeneity of matrix is obtained by solution treatment with δ-Ni₂Si precipitates dissolved. It is found that the formation of discontinuous precipitation is suppressed by the formation of Cr₃Si cores of 5–10 nm before the formation δ-Ni₂Si. Then, the nucleation and growth of δ-Ni₂Si precipitates occurs around the boundaries of these Cr₃Si cores, leading to an enhanced nucleation rate. This study provides a promising direction for the design and optimization of Cu-Ni-Si alloys based on the further understanding of the effect of the addition of Cr. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semisolid Processing and Squeeze Casting of Alloys and Composites)

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Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Squeeze Casting of AlSi9Mg Aluminum Alloy Component with a Large Size

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Materials 2022, 15(12), 4334; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15124334 - 19 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 780

Abstract

The squeeze casting process for an AlSi9Mg aluminum alloy flywheel housing component was numerically simulated using the ProCAST software, and orthogonal simulation tests were designed according to the L16 (4) ⁵ orthogonal test table to investigate the alloy melt flow rule under four factors and four levels each of the pouring temperature, mold temperature, pressure holding time and specific pressure, as well as the distributions of the temperature fields, stress fields and defects. The results showed that the flywheel housing castings in all 16 test groups were fully filled, and the thinner regions solidified more quickly than the thicker regions. Hot spots were predicted at the mounting ports and the convex platform, which could be relieved by adding a local loading device. Due to the different constraints on the cylinder surface and the lower end surface, the solidification was inconsistent, the equivalent stress at the corner junction was larger, and the castings with longer pressure holding time and lower mold temperature had larger average equivalent stress. Shrinkage cavities were mainly predicted at mounting ports, the cylindrical convex platform, the peripheral overflow groove and the corner junctions, and there was also a small defect region at the edge of the upper end face in some test groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semisolid Processing and Squeeze Casting of Alloys and Composites)

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