PRODUCTION OF FEEDSTOCK MATERIAL FOR SEMI-SOLID MATERIALPROCESSING BY COOLING SLOPE CASTING PROCESS

Semi-solid processing routes for metallic alloys require feedstock materials with non-dendritic microstructure in the semi-solid state. Cooling slope casting process is one of the methods used to produce such structure whereby molten alloy is poured onto a cooling slope into a mould before semi-solid metal processing is carried out. This paper discusses the resulting microstructures of the ingot cast via the cooling slope. Al-Si alloy was melted in crucible graphite with dry argon degassing then poured on mild steel cooling slope which is coated with Boron Nitride. In this experiment, comparison between cooling slope with and without water circulation was investigated. From the experiment, it can be concluded that the water circulation influenced the fraction volume of α-Al particle, grain size and shape factor (SF).