Effects of squeeze casting parameters on the microstructure of LM13 alloy

Effects of applied pressure and melt and die temperatures on the microstructure of squeeze cast LM13 alloy were examined. The results showed that application of pressure during solidification decreased the grain size and SDAS of the primary α phase and modified the eutectic silicon particles. With application of an external pressure of about 100 MPa, the average SDAS and the average aspect ratio of eutectic silicon particles were reduced from 47 μm and 5 to about 34 μm and 1.5, respectively. SDAS of the primary α phase and the average aspect ratio of eutectic silicon particles decreased slightly with a drop in the melt or die temperatures, reaching to 32 μm and 1.25, respectively, for the best conditions.