Effect of erbium on the rheocast quality index of A356 semisolid feedstock

Journal article

Authors/Editors

Strategic Research Themes

Publication Details

Author list: Peeratatsuwan C., Pandee P., Patakham U., Limmaneevichitr C.

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group

Publication year: 2021

Volume number: 37

Issue number: 4

Start page: 424

End page: 438

Number of pages: 15

ISSN: 0267-0836

eISSN: 1743-2847

URL: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85103622443&doi=10.1080%2f02670836.2021.1908727&partnerID=40&md5=be4a82f7a545a37cdbc087a6bc099094

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

The effects of erbium on the microstructure of a semisolid A356 alloy for thixoforming were investigated. Semisolid A356 alloys were prepared using the serpentine channel technique. The results demonstrated that a semisolid A356 alloy could be successfully produced. The addition of erbium refined the size of primary α-Al globules; moreover, the eutectic silicon phase was modified. The thermal analysis results showed that the addition of erbium decreased the amount of nucleation sites for eutectic phases, leading to increased undercooling of the melts. Therefore, erbium delays the nucleation of eutectic phases, resulting in refinement of the eutectic silicon phases. Moreover, the addition of erbium increased the rheocast quality index value of the semisolid A356 alloy, which is beneficial for thixoforming. © 2021 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

Keywords

serpentine channel, Thixoforming