Industrialized Application of Rheo-HPDC Process for the Production of Large Thin-Walled Aluminum Alloy Parts

Abstract

A simplified and efficient process, namely air-cooled stirring rod (ACSR), was proposed to prepare semisolid slurry of aluminum alloys. An advanced integrated rheological high pressure die-casting (Rheo-HPDC) technology was established by combining the ACSR equipment with HPDC machines to produce high quality aluminum alloy products. Microstructures, surface qualities, mechanical properties, corrosion resistances and thermal conductivities of the Al-8Si alloy parts prepared by Rheo-HPDC were investigated and compared to those prepared by traditional HPDC. The results indicated that the Rheo-HPDC process can prepare aluminum alloy parts in which the primary particles are fine and spherical, and there is few shrinkage porosity. Multifarious high quality large thin-walled aluminum alloy parts, such as filter shells, cooling shells, antenna crates and mounting brackets for communication, were produced by the process. Rheo-HPDC alloys showed improved surface quality to those formed by traditional HPDC, and the surface roughness is small and avoid employing CNC to surface finish. Also, compared with HPDC alloys, the alloys prepared by Rheo-HPDC have an increased mechanical properties and thermal conductivity due to high density and refined microstructure. Furthermore, Rheo-HPDC aluminum alloys indicated a remarkable improvement in corrosion resistance as shown by the results of electrochemical and weight loss experiments.