Composition segregation in semi-solid metal cast AA7075 aluminium alloy

The composition distribution and microstructural evolution associated with the characteristic globular grain structure in semi-solid metal cast AA7075 aluminium alloy has been investigated. The primary globular grains possess uniform composition over nearly 90% of their diameter with fluctuations only occurring in the near surface of the individual grains. The inter-globular regions are solute rich and contain non-equilibrium eutectic. The segregation pattern in semi-solid cast structures occurs over a much greater length-scale than the dendritic pattern prevalent in conventional castings and it is proposed that the distinction arises from predominant planar growth of the α-primary globular grains during the SSM conditioning stage. Examination of the in-grain structure using electron backscattered diffraction revealed a quasi-periodic fluctuation in misorientation that may have arisen from local perturbations on the planar solid interface as solidification progressed. Homogenisation prior to artificial ageing is severely compromised by the undesirable segregation pattern.