Melt conditioning by advanced shear technology (MCAST) for refining solidification microstructures

Abstract

MCAST (melt conditioning by advanced shear technology) is a novel processing technology developed recently for conditioning liquid metal prior to solidification processing. The MCAST process uses a twin screw mechanism to impose a high shear rate and a high intensity of turbulence on the liquid metal, so that the conditioned liquid metal has uniform temperature, uniform chemical composition and well-dispersed and completely wetted oxide particles with a fine size and a narrow size distribution. The microstructural refinement is achieved through an enhanced heterogeneous nucleation rate and an increased nuclei survival rate during the subsequent solidification processing. In this paper we present the MCAST process and its applications for microstructural refinement in both shape casting and continuous casting of light alloys.     

Heat transfer characteristics of lost foam casting process of magnesium alloy

1 Introduction The growing demand for mass reduction in aerospace and automotive industries has greatly increased the magnesium application. Currently, casting is the main industrial forming method for magnesium alloys, but the lag of research and develop…     

半固态金属浆料先进制备技术的研究进展

总结了10多年来半固态金属浆料先进制备工艺的研究和应用现状,分别介绍了压室浆料、双螺旋机械搅拌浆料、低过热度倾斜板浇注浆料、低过热度浇注和弱机械搅拌浆料、连续流变转换浆料、低过热度浇注和弱电磁搅拌浆料、蛇形通道浇注浆料、熔体分散混合浆料、转桶搅拌浆料、波浪倾斜板浇注浆料、旋转倾斜圆筒浆料、超声振动浆料、倒锥形通道浇注浆料、自孕育浆料、偏旋热焓平衡浆料、气泡搅拌浆料、环状电磁搅拌浆料等金属浆料的先进制备工艺及其发展前景。     

Effects of processing parameters on microstructure of semi-solid magnesium alloy

In this paper, the effects of pouring temperature of magnesium melt, preheating temperature of the barrel of the screw mixer, and shear rate on the solidified microstructures of semi-solid slurry were investigated by a mechanical stirring semi-solid process. The appropriate processing parameters of slurry preparation were obtained, and the mold filling ability of semi-solid slurry for thin-walled casting was examined. Results indicate that the solid volume fraction of non-dendritic microstructure increases with a decrease in pouring temperature of magnesium melt and the barrel preheating temperature of the screw mixer. Also the grain size of primary α-phase is reduced. Furthermore, the solid volume fraction of semi-solid nondendritic structure decreases with an increase of shear rate. The fine and round granular microstructure with 30～50 μm in size of semi-solid AZ91D magnesium alloy was presented. Finally, a 1.0 mm thin-walled casting with a clear contour and good soundness was successfully made by semi-solid rheo-diecasting.     

Temperature-induced anomalous structural changes of Al-12wt.%Sn-4wt.%Si melt and its influence on as-cast structure

The temperature dependence of the viscosity of liquid Al-12wt.%Sn-4wt.%Si was studied with a high-temperature viscosity apparatus. Anomalous changes of viscosity of the melt were found at 1,103 K and 968K in the cooling process, which indicates anomalous structural changes of the melt. It is calculated that the anomalous structural change is associated with an abrupt decrease of atomic clusters' size and activation energy in the melt.According to the temperature of the anomalous structural changes, melt heat treatment process (quenching from superheat to pouring temperature)was performed on Al-12wt.%Sn-4wt.%Si melt prior to pouring, aimed to keep the small atomic clusters from higher temperature to lower pouring temperature. The results suggest that relatively small atomic clusters at the pouring temperature in the melt could generate a deep under-cooling of nucleation in the subsequent solidification process, and refine the as-cast structure. After being quenched from superheating to pouring temperature, the relatively small atomic clusters, especially the Si-Si clusters in the melt will grow to equilibrium state (relatively big atomic clusters) with holding time, resulting in the prominent coarsening of the Si morphology in the as-cast structure.     

利用ProCAST探索浇注温度对转子质量的影响

运用铸造过程数值模拟软件ProCAST,对转子铸件进行了浇注温度的模拟仿真分析,以研究不同浇注温度对QT400-15转子铸件缺陷的影响。结果显示:温度过高虽然可以提高流动性,但是同时会增加液体在凝固过程中的收缩量,导致缩孔缩松缺陷;而温度过低,又会导致铸件力学性能达不到要求。根据试验情况,浇注温度宜选在1 340~1 360℃。     

精密铸造等轴晶涡轮叶片晶粒度控制方法

从精密铸造的型壳温度、浇注温度、细化剂粒度和含量、凝固方法、组合方式、型壳材料和厚度,以及型壳造型等方面,分析了各因素对涡轮叶片等轴晶粒度的影响,并结合实际生产提出了主要的控制方法和工艺参数,为进一步优化工艺、提高产品质量提供了一定的理论指导和参考。     

Effect of pouring temperature on cooling slope casting of semi-solid Al-Si-Mg alloy

Present trend of semi-solid processing is directed towards rheocasting route which allows manufacturing of near-net-shape cast components directly from the prepared semi-solid slurry. Generation of globular equi-axed grains during solidification of rheocast components, compared to the columnar dendritic structure of conventional casting routes, facilitates the manufacturing of components with improved mechanical properties and structural integrity. In the present investigation, a cooling slope has been designed and indigenously fabricated to produce semi solid slurry of Al-Si-Mg (A356) alloy and successively cast in a metallic mould. The scope of the present work discusses about development of a numerical model to simulate the liquid metal flow through cooling slope using Eulerian two-phase flow approach and to investigate the effect of pouring temperature on cooling slope semi-solid slurry generation process. The two phases considered in the present model are liquid metal and air. Solid fraction evolution of the solidifying melt is tracked at different locations of the cooling slope, following Schiel s equation. The continuity equation, momentum equation and energy equation are solved considering thin wall boundary condition approach. During solidification of the liquid metal, a modified temperature recovery scheme has been employed taking care of the latent heat release and change of fraction of liquid. The results obtained from simulations are compared with experimental findings and good agreement has been found.     

金属凝固细晶技术及发展

介绍了凝固过程控制在材料加工技术中的地位,阐述了凝固过程的研究内容和凝固组织细化的作用,并对金属凝固组织细化技术中的浇注过程和传热条件控制方法、化学处理方法、机械处理方法以及外加物理场方法作了简单评述;认为温度扰动、成分扰动、外加超声波、脉冲电流或脉冲磁场不仅能有效地细化金属凝固组织,还可以避免其他细化方法对环境和金属材料本身的污染,有利于材料的循环利用.     

熔体浇注温度和板倾斜度对倾斜板制备A356铝合金的凝固和显微组织的影响(英文)

采用倾斜板制备A356铝合金半固态浆料。通过倾斜板底部的逆流水冷却使A356合金熔体在流下倾斜板时发生局部凝固,从而导致在板壁上形成连续柱状枝晶。由于强制对流作用,这些树枝晶被折断成等轴和破碎的晶粒,然后被连续冲洗而在斜板出口形成半固态浆料。熔体浇注温度是影响凝固组织的重要条件,而倾斜度为优质半固态浆料提供必要的剪切作用。将得到的浆料在金属模具中凝固以制备理想显微组织的半固态铸造坯料。然后,通过热处理以提高半固态铸造坯料的表面质量。对半固态铸造和热处理后坯料的显微组织进行分析。研究熔体浇注温度(620,625,630和635°C)和板倾斜度(30°,45°,60°和75°)对斜板制备A356铝合金的凝固和显微组织的影响。结果表明:在625°C的熔体浇注温度和60°斜板倾角时,A356铝合金具有细小和球状的晶粒,是最佳的显微组织。     

Modelling Permanent-mould Casting Processes

Abstract

Numerical and experimental work is carried out to investigate liquid metal flow and heat transfer during the permanent moulding of cast iron. Heat conduction during the pouring and solidification of cast-iron plates, and liquid metal flow and heat transfer during the pouring and solidification of cylindrical cast-iron ingots is numerically and experimentally investigated. The castings are poured in permanent moulds, and temperature distributions in the castings and the moulds are recorded. The mathematical modelling indicates the significance of finite pouring time and liquid metal convection on the temperature distribution. Good agreement is obtained between the experimental data and the predictions of the heat and mass transfer computations. Temperature fields, solidus front shapes and velocity fields during pouring and solidification are simulated for both top and bottom gated cases.     

流变铸造半固态亚共晶高铬铸铁组织形成研究

采用倾斜板冷却体法制备了亚共晶高铬铸铁半固态浆制．研究了亚共晶高铬铸铁半固态球状品的形成条件及规律。结果表明：通过控制合适的浇注温度．并对充型前的金属液进行激冷处理，同时对过冷的金属液施加适当的振动，可以获得球形或近球形的先共晶奥氏休非枝晶组织；在带有倾斜板冷却体的低温浇注情况下金属液的冲刷、流动及振动使熔体获得了均匀的溶质场和温度场．抑制了发达的先共晶奥氏体枝晶的形成，为获得球状品提供了条件。     

电磁搅拌对Al-Si合金流动性及凝固组织的影响

采用同心三螺旋线流动性测试装置,通过对比试验的方法,获得了不同浇注温度条件下未经电磁搅拌处理、经电磁搅拌处理及电磁搅拌后再保温处理的铝合金流动指数和凝固组织,进而探讨了电磁搅拌对合金熔体结构的影响。结果表明:与未经电磁搅拌处理相比,经电磁搅拌处理后合金熔体的流动指数明显提高,浇注温度722℃时,流动指数提高约2%,浇注温度670℃时,流动指数提高约13%,其本质原因在于电磁搅拌作用使熔体中微观不均匀的Si—Si原子集团尺寸和形状发生改变,进而使熔体温度场与浓度场更加均匀、形核率得到进一步提高,且电磁搅拌温度愈低,这种作用愈强烈;电磁搅拌后再保温处理的流动指数降低7%,且凝固组织比较粗大,说明合金熔体经保温处理后电磁搅拌作用会发生衰退乃至最终消失。     

ANALYSIS OF OVERFLOW CRITICAL VALUE FOR TiAl BASED ALLOY MELT DURING PROCESS OF CENTRIFUGAL CASTING

１ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＴｉＡｌｂａｓｅｄａｌｏｙｓｈａｖｅａｔｒａｃｔｅｄａｇｒｅａｔｄｅａｌｏｆａｔｅｎｔｉｏｎｂｅｃａｕｓｅｏｆｔｈｅｉｒｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌｙａｔｒａｃｔｉｖｅｐｒｏｐｅｒｔｉｅｓｆｏｒｈｉｇｈｔｅｍｐｅｒａｔｕｒｅｓｔｒｕ...     

Ni基耐热合金凝固过程的元胞自动机方法模拟

以温度扩散方程、多组元的溶质扩散方程以及枝晶尖端生长的LGK模型为基础,建立了Ni基耐热合金凝固过程的元胞自动化模型。利用这个模型模拟了凝固过程中不同冷却速率上晶粒微观结构的演化。对模基表面与铸件内部的均匀形核、晶粒生长、扩散过程以及固／液晶面的曲率等对凝固过程中晶粒微观结构演化的影响分别进行了讨论。     

Progress on Numerical Simulation of Vibration in the Metal SolidificationEI北大核心CSCD

The application of vibration technology to the metal solidification process can not only effectively improve the solidified structure and the performance of castings, but also have the advantages of low cost, energy saving and environmental protection. Therefore, the application of vibration technology in metal solidification has been extensively studied in experiments. However, due to the high temperature and opacity of the metal melt, hindering its measurement and observation, the mechanism how the vibration affects the solidification is not fully understood. Numerical simulation can provide the variation law of various parameters such as flow field, temperature field and stress field under vibration condition, which helps us understand the mechanism of vibration more thoroughly. Meanwhile, the numerical simulation of the influence of vibration on the solidification of metal melt has been much less systematically studied. This paper introduces the research progress of numerical simulation of vibration applied in metal solidification. The main vibration modes include ultrasonic vibration, mechanical vibration and pulsed electromagnetic vibration. The application mainly includes melt processing, filling, solidification, purification and ageing process of numerical simulation. The current research status of numerical simulation theory and technology of vibration applied in all aspects of casting was summarized systematically. Furthermore, the future research directions of numerical simulation of vibration in metal solidification process were prospected.     

基于三维有限元铸轧工艺模拟及工艺参数优化的Mg-Al合金晶粒细化(英文)

为了获得质量优异的镁合金薄板材并研究铸轧工艺参数对AZ31镁合金薄板材的温度场和热应力场的影响,基于铸轧的对称性采用ANSYS软件建立了三维几何和有限元模型。在ANSYS软件中采用smart-sizing算法进行网格划分。进行了一系列不同工艺参数下的三维温度场和热应力数值模拟。结果表明,随着浇注温度的升高,液相区和液固两相区的长度都增加;随着辊/薄板间接触的对流换热系数的增大,液固两相区的长度减小;随着浇注温度和铸轧速度的提高,两相区的长度增大。将优化的工艺参数(铸造速度2m/min、浇注温度640℃、换热系数15kW/(m2·℃)及水淬)用于镁合金铸轧试验,得到平均晶粒尺寸为50μm的镁合金板坯。三维仿真结果能更好地理解相变区的温度变化和铸轧过程中热裂纹的形成机理,为设计和优化镁合金铸轧的工艺参数提供帮助。     

金属熔体沉积实验装置研究

金属熔体沉积成形涉及金属熔体的产生,形态演变,流动,凝固等热物理过程。根据金属液流断续特性要求,设计开发了金属熔体沉积装置。结果表明:通过此实验装置研究实现了金属熔体沉积过程关键参数(脉冲压力、扫描速度、熔体温度、基板温度等)的监测与控制,为后续深入研究熔体沉积成形技术提供了必要的实验软硬件基础。     

半固态金属组织的形成模型及模拟

分析了半固态金属制备过程中搅拌状态下晶粒生长的浓度场及温度场，将凝固速度与液体流动速度作为晶粒生长形态的影响因素,建立了液体运动状态下的晶粒生长形态模型，并且模拟了在不同半固态制备条件下晶粒的生长形态．理论模拟与实验结果相符合.     

磁场类型对金属凝固机理的影响研究综述*

利用磁场辅助制备的合金综合性能优异,广泛应用在工业生产、交通运输、航空航天等领域。不同磁场参数环境下合金硬度、耐磨性等服役性能有所差异,作用机理复杂多变。对新工艺驱动下不同磁场对金属凝固过程的作用规律进行总结, 弥补目前磁场辅助金属表面加工方法的研究短板,对金属表面工程发展有重大意义。归纳科研人员在不同磁场环境对金属表面加工的研究探索,分析对比金属材料在不同类型磁场环境下的晶核形核和生长过程差异,总结金属凝固过程在不同磁场下的变化规律,如晶界形貌改善、形核率提高、晶粒细化等。从晶粒微观形貌和合金宏观性能表现两方面出发,分析磁场作用下熔体内部传热传质变化,揭示稳恒磁场、脉冲磁场和交变磁场对金属凝固影响的作用机理,讨论不同参数的磁场对熔体作用效果差异,如磁场对熔池内部流动扰动、熔体内带电粒子受到的洛伦兹力等。综上,晶粒细化、合金性能提高是磁场作用下熔池传热传质变化和磁场作用力的综合体现。综合研究对比稳恒磁场、脉冲磁场和交变磁场对金属凝固的作用特点和作用机理,综述金属凝固领域当前热点问题,有助于统一磁场环境下金属凝固机理的争论,填补磁场环境下金属表面加工工艺的空白,对推进高性能金属表面制备研究有借鉴意义。