Optimization of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Al-A360 Produced by Semi-Solid Casting

Abstract

Semi-Solid Casting (SSM) is a new process that could produce globular structures with mechanical properties. The cooling slope method (CLM) is a one of this process that was employed to produce the A360 feedstock. In this method, The dendritic primary phase in the conventionally cast A356 alloy has transformed into a non-dendritic one. In this paper, The molten alloy with the temperature (PT) of 670, 650, 630, 610 and 590ºC was poured on the surface of the plate where cooled with water circulation in various cooling angles (CA) and lengths (CL). After pouring, the melt which became semi-solid at the end of the plate was consequently poured into cylindrical steel mold with different mold temperatures (MT). Then, a back-propagation neural network was design to correlate the process parameters. Finally, genetic algorithm (GA) was used to optimize the process parameters. Results indicated that the hardness of samples changed with PT and MT. In the best condition with changes on PT, the hardness increased 15% and it increased 5% with changes on MT. The hardness is increased around 12% and 9% with changes on CL and CA consequently. The strength is increased around 13% and 6% with changes on CL and CA consequently.