Formation of grain refined and non-dendritic microstructure of an aluminum alloy under angular oscillation

A new technique to achieve sound semi-solid slurry by introducing angular oscillation during the earlier stage of solidification is reported. The effects of melt superheat and oscillation intensity on the grain refinement and morphology of primary Al particles in aluminum alloy A356 were investigated. Results confirmed that a fully grain refined and non-dendritic microstructure could be obtained using proper processing conditions, and the superheat of melt could be increased to a higher level. The primary Al particle had average diameter of 58 μm and average shape factor of 0.84, and featured zero entrapped eutectic.