Extrusion tests of 7075 aluminium alloy at high solid fraction

Abstract

Thixoforging is a type of semi-solid metal processing at high solid fraction (0.5 < fs < 1). 7075 aluminium alloy has been used as a feedstock for thixoforging in order to investigate thixoformability of a high performance aluminium alloy at high solid fraction. Higher solid fraction of 7075 alloy is less sensitive to a drop in temperature, avoids metal splash at high speed, allows laminar flow at high speed. Hot tool is used to slow down the solidification rate of the high solid fraction metal by decreasing thermal exchanges. To determine the best parameters to achieve maximum mechanical properties in thixoforging of 7075 aluminum alloy, we need to consider the impact of some parameters such as tool temperature, shear rate. For this, we use extrusion tests with constant speed [1] where these parameters are known. The result of this study is that each parameter has its level of impact on the thixoforging: the temperature of the tool and the deformation rate shouldn’t be high to avoid cracks. Thermal exchanges between the material flow and the tool have to be reduced to avoid high solidification rate [2].