• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.7-21
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• 2000

This paper describes an overview of the thixoforming and thixomolding processes. Semi-solid metalworking (SSM), which is called the thixoforming process of aluminium materials, incorporates the elements of both casting and for the manufacture of near net shape parts. The SSM has some advantages such as net shape or near net shape manufacturing, the ability to form thin walls, excellent surface finish, tight tolerance, and excellent dimensional precision. The thixomolding process of Mg alloy (AZ9l) is a combination of two technologies both conventional die casting and plastic injection molding. The feed material used is a machined chip with a geometry of approximately 1 mm square and a length of 2~3 mm. The semi-solid forming (SSF) of high quality aluminium and magnesium parts will be established in the automotive and electronic industry, in the future. The hybrid method of casting/forging has been caused attention. This process uses a preformed material made by casting instead of the wrought material and finishes it by a single forging process. This process is expected to lower costs without sacrificing the mechanical and finishes it by a single forging process. The process is expected to lower costs without sacrificing the mechanical properties. The authors, intending that the casting/forging process contributes to a reduction in production cost of aluminum automotive parts in Korea, describes the feature of the casting/forging process, aluminum alloys suitable for the cast preform, microstructure and mechanical properties of the cast preform, application examples of cast/forging, and further study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.902-905
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• 2000

As the manufacturing processes of automotive engine piston, gravity die-casting, squeeze casting, hot forging and powder forging process are generally used for the various specifications. As the semi-solid forming(SSF) is compared with conventional casting such as gravity die-casting and squeeze casting for the characteristics of its process, the product without inner defects such as gas porosity and segregation can be obtained and its microstructure is globular grain. In SSF process, the materials are heated up to the temperature between the solvus and liquidus line at which the materials exists in the form of liquid-solid mixture. In this time, Discussion is given about reheating process of row material and results are presented regarding accurate temperature and process variables controlling for right solid fractions.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.153-158
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• 2016

The lost foam casting process was used to fabricate Al-Si-Mg cast specimens, and the effects of the chemical composition and process variables on the tensile properties and the mold filling ability were investigated. Some porosity formation was observed in thick sections of the casting and better tensile properties were obtained for thin sections, presumably because of their lower porosity and the higher cooling rate. Tensile properties were not clearly enhanced by grain refining treatment with Ti; however, the elongation was significantly improved by Sr modification of the Al-Si-Mg alloy. The mold filling distance was generally proportional to the pouring temperature of the melt, and the distance was also increased by the addition of Ti.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.87-93
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• 2019

The effects of mold materials on the microstructure and tensile properties were investigated to develop a mass production technique of aluminum alloy parts with excellent mechanical properties using a lost foam casting method. The microstructures of the plate-shaped cast alloy showed a tendency to be finer in proportion to the thickness of the plate, and a remarkably fine structure was obtained by applying a steel chill or a ball as a mold material compared to general sand. When a steel ball was used, it was observed that the larger the ball, the finer the cast structure and the better the tensile properties. The microstructure and tensile properties of the cast parts with complex shapes were greatly affected by the gating system, but the positive effects of the steel chill and the steel ball as a mold material were clear.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.217-220
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• 2008

본 연구에서는 유한요소법을 적용한 수치해석을 이용하여 타이어 제조용 금형을 생산하기 위해 사용되는 주조재의 열적 특성에 관하여 조사해 보았다. 고 품질의 정밀도가 좋은 타이어를 제조하기 위해, 일반적으로 타이어 제조용 금형의 주조재로 많이 사용되고 있는 알루미늄 합금과 비교 대상으로 연강을 선정하여 각각의 주조재에 대한 응고과정에서의 온도분포와 응력분포 결과를 수치적으로 계산해 보고 결과를 예측해 보았다. 수치해석을 통한 결과에서, 알루미늄 합금을 사용한 금형의 냉각과정 동안의 온도분포는 연강에 비해 보다 더 안정적으로 나타나는 것을 확인하였으며, 응력분포 결과 또한 알루미늄 합금 금형이 연강에 비해 정밀도를 향상시키고 좋은 품질의 제품을 얻는 데 보다 나은 것으로 나타났다. 그리고 금형의 온도분포와 응력분포는 금형의 냉각과정 동안 주조재의 초기 냉각온도에 의해 크게 영향을 받는 것으로 사료된다. 마지막으로, 이러한 수치해석에 의한 금형의 열적 특성 예측은 향후 고품질, 고정밀도의 금형 생산을 위한 예비성능평가 방법과 경제적 측면에서 매우 유용하게 활용할 수 있을 것으로 보인다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.11 s.176
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• pp.45-50
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• 2005

In this study, the casting/forging process was applied in manufacturing a low control arm, in order to prove that application of casting/forging process to Al6061 is likely to get the effect of light weight compared with existing steel products and to reduce the cost of materials. Firstly, In order to set up the optimum casting condition of the forging material, Al6061, casting experiments were carried out by controlling pouring temperature of the aluminum for casting, mold temperature, and pouring time. $700^{\circ}C$ pouring temperature, $300^{\circ}C$ mold temperature and 10-second pouring time were taken into account as the optimum casting conditions. With respect to a hot forging test, it is practiced on the basis of a temperature of materials, strain rate, and reduction rate so as to observe each microstructure and examine strain-stress curve simultaneously; examine tensile test and hardness test; eventually set up the optimum hot forging condition. A hot forging test, tensile test, hardness experiment, and microstructure observation were carried out on condition of $70\%$ reduction rate, $500^{\circ}C$ temperature of materials, and 1 strain rate. As a result of those experiments, 330MPa tensile strength, $16.4\%$ elongation, and 122.8Hv hardness were recorded. In oder to get a sound preform which has no unfitting cavity and less flash, two preforms were proposed on the basis of volume rate of the final product; the optimum volume rate of preform for the low control arm was $115\%$. In conclusion, it is confirmed that using the forging material rather than casting materials in casting/forging process is likely to get more superior mechanical properties. Compared with Al6061, performed by means of general forging, moreover, cast/forged Al6061 can not only stimulate productivity by reducing production processes, but cut down the cost of materials by reusing forging scraps.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Aluminum rear lower arm is designed for luxury sedan and manufactured by hollow sand casting in the present study. Here we present the relationship between local microstructure and coupon tensile test in the rear lower arm. The characteristics of the local tensile deformation are supposed to be dependent upon Si distribution and DAS (dendrite arm spacing). Si distribution affects the yield strength and DAS affects the elongation of local area in the part, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.293-298
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• 2007

Influences of aluminum carbide ($Al_4C_3$) addition on microstructure and damping capacity of Mg-3%Al casting alloy have been investigated based on experimental results of optical micrography, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry analysis and damping capacity measurement at RT. The addition of $Al_4C_3$ particles results in an efficient grain refinement. The damping capacity shows an increasing tendency with an increase in $Al_4C_3$ content. The damping value associated with $Al_4C_3$ particles is linearly dependent on the volume fraction of $Al_4C_3$ particles to the 2/3 power, $f_{2/3}$, which corresponds to the total surface area of the particles.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 2007

Aluminum plates of the same materials as the foam were attached by the casting process inserting the foam as a core to investigate the tensile property of open cell foams. Tensile properties of the open cell 6063 aluminum alloy foam of $10{\sim}30$ PPI were measured before and after heat treatment. Densities of test specimens were between 0.14 and $0.29g/cm^3$. Tensile strength of the 6063 aluminum foam after heat treatment showed little change. C values were in the range of $0.41{\sim}0.87$ for as cast foams and $0.11{\sim}0.27$ for T6 heat treated foams in the eq. of ${\sigma}^* _{pl}/{\sigma}_{ys}=C({\rho}/{\rho}_s)^{1.5}$, and increased with increase in the cell size.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.300-306
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• 2008

Solid state diffusion brazing of aluminum castings (AC4C) and wrought alloys (Al6061) was conducted in order to improve thermal conductivity and temperature uniformity of the aluminum heater which was generally fabricated by casting method. Tensile strength and thermal conductivity are raised with increasing brazing temperature, obtaining 122.5 MPa and $206W/m{\cdot}K$ at $540^{\circ}C$ 5hrs brazing conditions, respectively. The diffusion brazed heater, shows maximum temperature difference of $4^{\circ}C$, exhibits a enhanced temperature uniformity compared with the cast heater having the maximum temperature difference of $11^{\circ}C$.