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Microstructural Stability and Rheological Behavior of Al-Si-Cu Alloys in the Semi-solid State

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Abstract

This study investigates the microstructural stability and consequent rheological behavior of Al-Si-Cu in the semi-solid state. It covers different stages in the production of the alloy, characterization of the microstructure in the as-cast condition and the effect of reheating to a semi-solid slurry on the microstructure and viscous behavior. Al3Si2.5Cu, Al5Si2.5Cu, and Al7Si2.5Cu alloys were produced by conventional casting with intense electromagnetic stirring. The alloys were then reheated to temperatures corresponding to 45 and 60 pct, solid fractions and held at these temperatures for 0, 30, 90 and 210 second to investigate spheroidization of the solid phase immersed in liquid. The best rheological behavior was achieved for alloys reheated to a 45 pct solid fraction, which had an apparent viscosity of around 1 Pa s, like glycerol, or even 10 Pa s, like honey, for strains of up to 65 pct. However, for strains of between 65 and 80 pct the viscosity increased rapidly to 104 to 105 Pa s. These values are similar to those for molten glass and are a result of the start of solid–solid interaction. Even with viscosities as high as these, all the alloys exhibited excellent formability in the semi-solid state regardless of their silicon content.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank FAPESP (State of São Paulo Research Foundation—Projects 2009/08478-1-3, 2015/22143-38 and 2018/11802-4) as well as to the CNPq, (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—Project 304921/2017-3) for providing financial support and FEM/UNICAMP (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Campinas State University) and IFSP (São Paulo Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology), Bragança Paulista campus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science and Technology - IFSP, São Paulo Federal Institute of Education, Avenida Major Fernando Valle, n.2013, São Miguel, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luis Vanderlei Torres

  2. Department of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering - DEMM/FEM/UNICAMP, Rua Mendeleyev 200, Cidade Universitária “Zeferino Vaz”, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luis Vanderlei Torres & Eugênio José Zoqui

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  1. Luis Vanderlei Torres
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  2. Eugênio José Zoqui
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Correspondence to Eugênio José Zoqui.

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Torres, L.V., Zoqui, E.J. Microstructural Stability and Rheological Behavior of Al-Si-Cu Alloys in the Semi-solid State. Metall Mater Trans B 53, 3229–3245 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-022-02602-6

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