M Hajihashemi - MSc Student, Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
M Shamanian - Full Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
B Niroumand - cAssociate Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Semisolid processing is one of the modern routes in sound and near net shape parts production.  Preparation of semisolid slurry using a cooling slope is increasingly becoming popular, primarily because of its simplicity in design and ease of control of the process. In this research, the microstructures of Al۶۰۶۱ semisolid alloy cast via a miniature cooling slope were investigated. The properties of final microstructures such as sphericity depend on such casting factors as pouring rate, superheat, slope angle and slope length. In this work, the relationships between the process parameters and microstructural properties of semisolid castings were identified using a two level factorial design. The results showed that simultaneous increase or decrease in pouring rate and cooling slope length can result in the most proper microstructure. The optimum result was then successfully used for semisolid welding of the alloy.

Al۶۰۶۱ alloy, Semisolid processing, Cooling Slope, Sphericity, Semisolid welding