EFFECT OF THIXOFORMING ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AL-6%SI-3%CU ALLOY

Thixoforming is a type of semisolid metal (SSM) processing for forming alloys in the semisolid state to near net-shaped products. In the present study, the effect of a thixoforming process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-6Si-3Cu aluminium alloy was investigated. Melt was poured on a cooling slope at 630oC and the samples were obtained through permanent mold casting. They were thixoformed using a hydraulic press after holding at 571oC for 5min to yield a microstructure predominantly composed of α-Al globules and inter-globular Si particles. As-cast and thixoformed samples were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as hardness measurements and tensile tests. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of thixoformed alloy have improved as compared to permanent mold cast alloy. The ultimate tensile strength of as-cast sample was 210 ± 3.5 MPa and increased to 241 ±3.1 MPa in the thixoformed sample while the yield strength of as-cast alloy was 140 ±4.5 MPa and increased to 176±3.3 MPa in the thixoformed sample. The thixoformed alloy also showed an improvement in elongation to fracture as it increased from 2% in as-cast sample to 3.2% in thixoformed alloy. The fracture of as-cast sample showed a cleavage fracture, whereas in the thixoformed alloy, a combination of dimple and cleavage was observed.