Semi-solid processing of aluminum and magnesium alloys: Status, opportunity, and challenge in China
(1. Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China;
2. Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China;
3. GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 101407, China)
2. Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China;
3. GRIMAT Engineering Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing 101407, China)
Abstract: Owing to its low cost, short process and low energy consumption, semi-solid processing (SSP) of aluminum (Al) and magnesium (Mg) alloys has been considered as a competitive approach to fabricate complicated components with excellent performance. Over the past decade, significant progress has been achieved in deeply understanding the SSP process, the microstructure and performance of the fabricated components in China. This paper starts with a retrospective overview of some common slurry preparation methods, followed by presenting the performance and the underlying mechanisms of SSP fabricated alloys. Then, the mainstream opinions on the microstructure evolution and rheological flow behavior of semi-solid slurry are discussed. Subsequently, the general situation and some recent examples of industrial applications of SSP are presented. Finally, special attention is paid to the unresolved issues and the future directions in SSP of Al and Mg alloys in China.
Key words: semi-solid processing; aluminum alloys; magnesium alloys; slurry preparation; numerical modeling; performance; industrial applications