posted on 2010-11-10, 13:12authored byG. Vaneetveld, A. Rassili, Helen V. Atkinson
Thixoforging involves shaping alloys with a globular microstructure in the semi-solid state. To reach this kind of material, the Recrystallisation and Partial Melting (RAP) process can be used to obtain a globular microstructure from extruded material with liquid penetrating the recrystallised boundaries. Induction heating is used to apply the RAP process to slugs. One of the benefits of using this method of heating is the fast heating rate (20°C/s). This paper will help to improve heating parameters by showing their influence on 7075 aluminium alloy recrystallisation. These parameters are the heating rate; heating frequencies-power; presence or not of protective gas; position of the slug in the inductor; energy stored inside the slug; oxide layer on the slug side; chamfer of the slug upper corner.