Improvement in Thixoforging of 7075 Aluminium Alloys at High Solid Fraction

Abstract

Thixoforging is a type of semi-solid metal processing at high solid fraction (0.5<fs<1). 7075 aluminium alloys have 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 temperature, avoids metal splash at high speed and allows laminar flow at high speed. Hot tool combined with lubricant tool coating are used to slow down the solidification rate of the high solid fraction metal by decreasing thermal exchanges with the tool. Improved thermal and forming parameters [1-2] will be applied to produce an automotive component by thixoforging and mechanical properties have been measured from tensile samples. High mechanical properties are obtained after T6 thermal treatment.