The effect of initial microstructure of A356 alloys on the mechanical behavior in the semisolid state

The quality of semisolid casting largely depends on the formability of the semisolid feedstock. Despite of the semisolid casting process conditions, the initial microstructure of the feedstock plays a significant role in determining the metal formability under the semisolid state. In this study, the effect of initial microstructure of A356 alloy on the mechanical forming response in its semisolid state was investigated. A wide range of the initial microstructures varied from a very coarse dendritic structure to a fine globular structure were produced in A356 alloy using the Controlled Nucleation Method, particularly by controlling pouring temperature during solidification. Cylindrical specimens with 12 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height were compressed to a height reduction of 8 mm at constant strain rates from 1.39×10-1 /s to 1.39×10-3 /s. Strain rate jump tests were also carried out in order to evaluate the strain rate sensitivity at high fraction solid of 0.9. The materials produced with a low superheat exhibit a fine globular structure. They showed a very low compression stress in the semisolid state compared with the materials poured at high temperatures, which have coarse and dendritic structure.