Study on the ability of mechanical vibration for the production of thixotropic microstructure in A356 aluminum alloy

In the present paper, efficiency of mechanical vibration for producing semisolid Slurry with thixotropic microstructure in an A356 aluminum alloy was studied. The effects of vibration frequency and time were investigated on the size and morphology of alpha-Al phase and grain refinement degree. It was observed that thixotropic microstructure could be obtained in the Al alloy by applying mechanical vibration. It was also found that size and morphology of alpha-Al phase were strongly affected by vibration frequency and time. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.