TRANSACTION PAPER

Solidification of an Al-Zn alloy during semi-solid processing

S.L. George; R.D. Knutsen

Centre for Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town

SYNOPSIS

The semi-solid metal casting process results in a unique solidification path. The microstructural features that were identified during the characterization of the as-cast microstructure, were used as evidence of the process history in order to determine the solidification path followed during the evolution of the microstructure. The morphology of the grains was characterized using SEM and the extent and distribution of the elemental segregation within the grain structure was analysed using EDS.

Keywords: Semi-solid casting, solidification path, segregation

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