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Thixoforging of 332 aluminum alloy in a mechanical eccentric press

  • Metals & corrosion
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Abstract

This study sought to analyze the semi-solid behavior of commercial 332 aluminum alloy during thixoforming in a mechanical eccentric press (thixoforging). The solid–liquid transition, i.e., the working temperatures corresponding to 77%, 67% and 54% fraction solid, was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and simulation with Thermo-Calc® software. The alloy was then heated to the working temperature, held at that temperature for 0, 30, 90 and 210 s and thixoforged. The microstructure was characterized in three distinct regions of the thixoforged product: the end, the curved region and the central region. Different microstructures were observed along the product: in the central region, a completely deformed coarse dendrite microstructure was observed while in the region at the end of the product the microstructure was partially globular because the material flows into the die cavity without suffering significant deformation. The thixoforged alloy with the lowest fraction solid (52%), which was achieved at 572 ± 2 °C, had the most refined structure and smallest dendrite arm spacing (approximately 90 µm), leading to a yield strength of 151 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 233 MPa and elongation of 0.6. These mechanical characteristics can be considered excellent as no prior preparation or modification of the raw material was carried out. The material thus has excellent potential for use in both thixoforming and rheocasting.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Brazilian research funding agencies FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation—Projects 2015/22143-3 and 2018/11802-4), CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—Project CNPq PQ 304921-2017-3) and CAPES (Federal Agency for the Support and Improvement of Higher Education) for providing financial support for this study. The authors are also indebted to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Campinas and to the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo—Bragança Paulista campus (IFSP) for the practical support very kindly provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. São Paulo Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology (IFSP), Av. Major Fernando Valle, 2013, São Miguel, Bragança Paulista, SP, 12903-000, Brazil

    Luis Vanderlei Torres

  2. Department of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Campinas State University DEMM/FEM/UNICAMP, Rua Mendeleyev 200, Cidade Universitária “Zeferino Vaz”, Campinas, SP, 13083-860, Brazil

    Luis Vanderlei Torres, Marcos Antônio Naldi & Eugênio José Zoqui

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  1. Luis Vanderlei Torres
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Correspondence to Eugênio José Zoqui.

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Torres, L.V., Naldi, M.A. & Zoqui, E.J. Thixoforging of 332 aluminum alloy in a mechanical eccentric press. J Mater Sci 56, 11541–11556 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06024-8

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