Effects of vibration and grain refiner on microstructure of semisolid slurry of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy

The effects of vibration and grain refiner on the microstructure of semisolid slurry of hypoeutectic Al-Si alloy were studied. The impact of vibration on the convection of liquid was conducted by using a system of water-particle tracer. The 356 melt at temperature of 630-660 °C with or without grain refiner Al-5%Ti-1%B was poured into a metal cup as the vibrating vessel, then it was cooled to 590-610 °C in the semisolid zone and kept for some time, subsequently vibration with different frequencies was applied. The results show that the primary α(Al) particles become finer and rounder with the increase of vibration frequency. The slurry with primary α(Al) equivalent particle diameter(EPD) of about 90 μm and average shape coefficient(ASC) of about 0.5 can be prepared under vibration of 20 Hz. With the combined action of vibration and grain refiner Al-5Ti-B, even smaller and rounder spheroids with EPD of about 85 μm and ASC of about 0.6 are obtained.