This study evaluates the influence of strontium addition and holding time on mechanical properties for Al-10.5wt%Si-2wt%Cu secondary die-casting alloy and the measured electrical conductivity of modified alloys. A general improvement in the mechanical properties of the alloy was observed after adding the strontium. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation and electrical conductivity of modified alloys were improved by increasing strontium content and holding time. From these results, the optimal strontium content and holding time were identified on the mechanical properties of Al-10.5wt%Si-2wt%Cu secondary die-casting alloys.

The aim of this study is to characterize a thixoextruded 7075 Al wrought alloy bar in terms of its isotropic behavior through the optical microscope, mechanical test and electron back scattered diffraction. It is also discussed of the extrudability improvement for 7075 Al wrought alloy by thixoextrusion, with emphasis on controlling thixoextrusion parameters. Hot extrusion shows that the maximum extrusion pressure depends on their characteristics in terms of flow stress and hot workability. In the contrary, thixoextrusion demonstrates that the maximum extrusion pressure is almost uniform regardless of the experimental parameters, such as initial ram speed, die bearing length and thixoextrusion temperature. The hot extruded microstructures become elongated to extrusion direction, while the thixoextruded microstructures are isotropic and homogeneously distributed due to the existence of liquid phase between solid grains during the process. The grain refinement due to dynamic recrystallization during thixoextrusion has been also occurred. Subsequent recrystallization would lead to the strengthening of mechanical properties, as observed in the study. The important point is that the values of tensile, yield strength and elongation of the thixoextruded bar without plastic deformation are similar to those of the hot extruded bar with severe plastic deformation.

Foamed metal has become an attractive material, which has unique physical, thermal, acoustic, damping and mechanical properties, because large amount of pores are distributed in the metal matrix. Therefore, metal foam can be used for the light weight application in automotive, locomotive, aerospace fields. Aluminum foams have been developed successfully and will be employed in the next generation of energy absorption boxes. Magnesium alloys are most eligible candidate to substitute aluminum alloy, especially for lower density and higher damping properties in wide industrial fields. Magnesium alloy foams are expected to be particularly advantageous due to two thirds the density of aluminum. However, foaming magnesium have been weakness of high activity, difficult processing and very dangerous. In order to upgrade this problem, AM50 magnesium alloy which has better characteristic is safe to use through foaming time and alloying element in this study.

To prevent oxidation of Mg melt, $SF_6$ gas has been generally used for Mg alloys during melting and casting as a cover gas. The use of $SF_6$ gas, however, will be restricted owing to its crucial impact on global warming. Non-$SF_6$ process during melting and casting in diecasting industry has been proved with Eco-Mg alloys by a simple addition of small amount of CaO into Mg alloys. This paper shows non-$SF_6$ diecasting procedures for 0.7wt% CaO added AZ91D Eco-Mg alloys. Cold-chamber diecasting was performed under $CO_2$ atmosphere without $SF_6$ gas. An increment of mechanical properties, especially strength and ductility of Eco-Mg alloys is, in part, due to high-quality melt, refined grain size and $Al_2Ca$ second phase strengthening. Microstructures and mechanical properties of 0.7wt% CaO added AZ91D Eco-Mg alloys are evaluated in comparison with those of conventional AZ91D Mg alloy.

The effect of $C_2Cl_6$ for preventing to the surface oxidation and ignition of molten Mg alloy was studied with metallographic analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The alloy used for this study was AM100A Mg casting alloy with high strength. In order to investigate the surface protective characteristic of this molten alloy by $C_2Cl_6$ addition, we added them into molten AM100A alloy at $700^{\circ}C$ and then the melts were slowly cooled under a protective atmosphere of air containing Ar gas and $C_2Cl_6$ flux addition. The result found that the surface oxidation and ignition reaction of molten AM100A Mg alloy by adding $C_2Cl_6$ flux was more slowly occurred than that of the only a protective atmosphere of containing Ar gas with increasing time. This result was due to a dense protective film formed containing $MgCl_2$ on surface of molten Mg alloy during casting and solidification. The $MgCl_2$ was formed by a reaction of $C_2Cl_6$ with molten Mg.

The evolution of microstructure and phases of Mg-10Al-Mn alloy by cooling plate method during homogenization treatment have been investigated with metallographic analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The ingots used for this experiment were prepared by cooling plate and homogenization heat treatment was performed at 300 and $400^{\circ}C$ for various holding times (0, 1, 4, 8 and 12h). The casting ingots were consisted of the fine grains and eutectic phases. And, these eutectic phases were dissolved into the matrix during homogenization treatment at $400^{\circ}C$ but the lower temperature (at $300^{\circ}C$) did not be.

The viscosity of foam metal is necessary to get the pores, but it is difficult to manufacture net-shape foam, because the fluidity decreases by increasing viscosity. In this study, the A356 alloy which has good fluidity and less defect was selected and fabricated to foam metal. To understand about effect of thickening agent on foaming and mechanical properties, quantity of thickening agent was changed. The pore size, porosity and distribution of foam metal were measured by i-solution program. And compression test were performed by UTM. In case of 3.0wt% Ca in thickening agent, it is found that most of foam consist of homogeneous shape, and the growth height had the highest value of 204 mm in the all fabricated foams. The porosity was 93% and compressive strength was 3.1 MPa. In the microstructure, the $Al_2Si_2Ca$ intermetallic compound and Ti were observed. The vickers hardness value rose with increasing viscosity value.