Engineering Faculty Internships: Development of Efficient Semi-Solid Production Processes for Aluminum Alloys

本研究的目的是为几种铝合金开发一种高效的球化技术。具体的加热过程和循环，成分和成型操作将被开发，允许有效的生产和制造球化半固体，由成本和最终材料性能决定。使用新型半固态合金，传统的金属成形工艺，如铸造和锻造，在成本和可靠性方面可以得到显著改善。然而，这只能通过特殊的半固体加工来确保球化的微观结构。具有典型固相枝晶形态的半固体由于开裂而不易成形。迄今为止，在商业规模上生产球化微观结构一直很困难。这项研究是针对半固态材料在铝合金铸造中的应用。降低铸造厂的铸造温度是一个值得追求的目标。制造工艺的开发是铝工业和大学之间的合作努力。这项工作的商业潜力很大。

Kassner 9413131 The research is to develop an efficient spheroidization technology for several aluminum alloys. Specific heating processes and cycles, compositions, and forming operations will be developed that allow effective production and fabrication of spheroidized semi-solids as determined by cost and final material properties. Traditional metal shaping processes such as casting and forging can be dramatically improved in terms of cost and reliability using novel semi-solids alloys. However, this is possible only with special processing of semi-solids to ensure a spheroidized microstructure. Semi-solids with a typical dendritic morphology of the solid phase cannot be readily shaped due to cracking. To date, producing a spheroidized microstructure on a commercial scale has been difficult. The research is directed at the use of semi-solids in the casting of aluminum alloys. The reduction of casting temperatures in foundries is a worthy goal. The manufacturing process development is a collaborative effort between an aluminum industry and the university. The commerical potential of the work is high.