Effect of squeeze casting process on microstructures and flow stress behavior of Al-17.5Si-4Cu-0.5Mg alloy

The effects of squeeze casting process on microstructure and flow stress behavior of Al-17.5Si-4Cu-0.5 Mg alloy were investigated and the hot-compression tests of gravity casting and squeeze casting alloy were carried out at 350-500 °C and 0.001-5 s-1. The results show that microstructures of Al-17.5Si-4Cu-0.5 Mg alloys were obviously improved by squeeze casting. Due to the decrease of coarse primary Si particles, soft α-Al dendrite as well as the fine microstructures appeared, and the mechanical properties of squeeze casting alloys were improved. However, when the strain rate rises or the deformation temperature decreases, the flow stress increases and it was proved that the alloy is a positive strain rate sensitive material. It was deduced that compared with the gravity casting alloy, squeeze casting alloy (solidified at 632 MPa) is more difficult to deform since the flow stress of squeeze casting alloy is higher than that of gravity casting alloy when the deformation temperature exceeds 400 °C. Flow stress behavior of Al-17.5Si-4Cu-0.5Mg alloy can be described by a hyperbolic sine form with Zener-Hollomon parameter, and the average hot deformation activation energy Q of gravity casting alloy and squeeze casting alloy is 278. 97 and 308.77 kJ/mol, respectively.