• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2017

Given that the conventional extrusion of high-strength Al alloys such as 7075 aluminum alloys is difficult due to their very low extrudability as compared to that of 6061 aluminum alloys, thixo-extrusion can be used to obtain a high-strength material easily at a lower extrusion pressure as compared to conventional extrusion. In this study, hot- and thixo-extruded 7075 aluminum alloys are prepared by a vertical forward extrusion process and their microstructures, hardness levels, and compressive properties are investigated. Hot-extruded alloy bars are assessed to obtain a microstructure elongated in the extrusion direction, whereas with thixo-extruded alloy bars, it was possible to obtain a microstructure having fine and equiaxed grains by dynamic recrystallization. The resulting isotropy and improved formability at the hot deformation temperature of the thixo-extruded alloy were attributed to the fine and equiaxed grains formed by the thixo-extrusion process.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2014

Thixo-extrusion of semi-solid 7075 aluminum alloy and the mechanical properties of its extrudates were investigated. The semisolid alloy was prepared by a cooling slope cast. In other to perform thixo-extrusion, semi-solid 7075 aluminum alloy billets were reheated at the reheating conditions reported in a previous study. The maximum extrusion pressure in thixo-extrusion was 615MPa. This was lower than that of conventional hot extrusion ($P_{max}=940MPa$) at the same extrusion conditions due to the increased fluidity of the alloy billet in the semi-solid state. The values of Rockwell hardness (scale B) at the extrusion direction of the as thixoextruded bar were 48~53HRB and the difference in Rockwell hardness between the transverse direction and the extrusion direction was 5HRB or less. The results show that thxio-extrusion of semi-solid 7075 Al alloy improves the workability and anisotropic with the extrusion direction compared with hot extrusion of the conventional alloy.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.123-129
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• 2014

This work presents the results of a thixo-extrusion process applied to aluminum alloy and and reheating characteristics of semi-solid A356 Alloy using have been discussed. The reheating experiment was performed using an electric resistance furnace and multi-stage heating for uniform reheating. The thixo-extrusion was performed at the optimal reheating conditions of the semi-solid A356 alloy, the the extrusion conditions were an extrusion ratio of 33 and ram speed of 6 mm/sec. The results showed that the thixo-extrusion of semi-solid A356 alloy fabricated by the cooling slope reduced the extrusion pressure by 180% in comparison with hot extrusion, and that a sound extrusion could be obtained in spite of the same extrusion ratio and strain rate.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.263-265
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• 2007

틱소오 다이캐스팅을 위하여는 재가열 시 고상율을 제어할 때 구상화 조직을 가진 소재가 필요하다. 현재까지 전자교반법에 의하여 제조한 빌렛을 이용하여 틱소오 다이캐스팅에 이용하였다. 그러나 제품의 원가절감과 소재개발 측면에서 틱소오 다이캐스팅을 위한 압출소재의 개발 공정을 설명하고자 한다. 재가열시 압출비가 구상화 조직에 미치는 영향과 기계적 성질 사이의 관계를 규명하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.165-172
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• 2013

In the present study, the microstructure and solution treatment response of Al-Zn-Mg alloys bars by thixo-extrusion was investigated. The alloy bars were solution treated at 400, 430, 460 and $490^{\circ}C$ for various times. In order to examine the microstructures and phase analysis of the samples after solution treatment, it was performed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. And, Vickers hardness and electrical conductivity was measured on the solution treated samples for each condition to investigate the solution treatment response of extruded bars during solution treatment. The results show that the optimum solution heat treatment conditions of thixo-extruded Al-Zn-Mg alloy for minimization of the grain growth and degradation promotion of the second phase is a temperature of $460^{\circ}C$ and holding time of 0.5 to 2 h.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.347-353
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• 2011

There is thixo-extrusion to form high strength aluminum alloy. But, it is a problem that grains become grain coarsening during reheating process because the alloy was exposed at high temperature. In order to solve grain growth during reheating process, calcium was added in Al-Zn-Mg alloys. Primary a grain sizes of semi-solid Al-Zn-Mg-(0, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.9, wt.%)Ca were measured with image analyzer after reheating. Measured primary a grain sizes were applied to LSW(Lifshitz-Slyozov and Wagner) equation to check the effect of Ca on grain coarsening. Coarsening rate constant K values of semi-solid Al-Zn-Mg-(0, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.9, wt.%)Ca alloys were $371\;mm^3s^{-1}$, $247\;mm^3s^{-1}$, $198\;mm^3s^{-1}$ and $166 mm^3s^{-1}$, respectively. As increasing calcium content, K value decreased which means grains are refined. Also, grains of calcium addition were more spherical than that of calcium free.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.213-219
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• 2009

Optimum conditions for production of semi-solid Al-Zn-Mg alloy billets was carried out by the Taguchi design method. And, Al-Zn-Mg alloy billets contained Sc (free, 0.1 and 0.3 mass %) were fabricated at optimum conditions. Evolution of microstructure in semi-solid state was investigated through various liquid fractions, holding times and holding temperatures. The Al-Zn-Mg alloy billets reheated at $615^{\circ}C$ during 30min are grain growth and it was fractured due to increasing liquid fraction before quenching. And, during reheating up to $600^{\circ}C$, grain growth of Al-Zn-Mg alloy billets contained Sc (0.1 and 0.3 mass %) was not occurred in comparison with those of Al-Zn-Mg alloy without Sc. It was thought that $Al_3Sc$ phases have a pinning effect in grain boundary and Sc content of 0.1 mass% is able to inhibit grain growth effectively through reheating process.