《China Foundry》
Title:To improve robustness of mechanical properties of semi-solid cast A356 alloy using taguchi design method
Author:*Yi-wu Xu1, 3, Hong-yi Zhan2 , Wei Tong3 , Jin-ping Li4 , Le-peng Zhang4 , De-jiang Li1 , and Xiao-qin Zeng1
Address: 1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; 2.China Science Lab, General Motors Global Research & Development, Shanghai 201206, China; 3.General Motors (China) Investment Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201206, China; 4.China International Intellectech Corporation (CIIC), Beijing 100004, China
Key words:semi-solid casting; taguchi design method; signal-to-noise ratio; mechanical property; microstructure
CLC Nmuber:TG146.21
Document Code:A
Article ID:1672-6421(2024)02-175-10
Abstract:
Mechanical properties of semi-solid casting are dependent on multiple processing parameters, and improper processing parameters will not only reduce mean data but also increase variations. The present study investigated the impact of parameters in slurry preparation and heat treatment on the yield strength and ductility of T6 heat-treated A356 Al-Si alloy using rapid slurry forming (RSF) semi-solid casting. The focus was primarily on the robustness of mechanical properties based on Taguchi design method. By analyzing signal-to-noise ratio and minimum value calculated from -3S, the optimum slurry preparation parameters and heat treatment parameters were determined to be no quench, enthalpy exchange material (EEM) temperature of 140 °C, EEM-to-melt ratio of 6mass%, stirring time of 18 s, solution heat treated at 520 °C for 2 h, and ageing heat treated at 190 °C for 6 h. In a small batch validation, the -3S yield strength and -3S elongation reach 256.1 MPa and 5.03% respectively, showing a satisfactory robustness. The hardness and microstructure of heat-treated samples with the best and worst properties were characterized to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms affecting the mean value and variations of mechanical properties.