A Novel Process in Semi-Solid Metal Casting

In this research a new process for semi-solid casting of ductile iron based on the high nucleation rate combined with locally mechanical stirring is presented. In this process at first fully liquid ductile iron was poured on the peripheral surface of a wheel rotating against pouring direction. At this stage, the solid crystals nucleated at the chilling surface were pushed to the melt by a heat resistance steel cutter and finally the semi-solid slurry was generated. Reheating treatment was done on the samples to achieve more efficiency of semi-solid casting process. The effects of the travelling distance of solid particles during casting, the reheating time and temperature were examined. The results showed that the process effectively changes the dendrite structure to globular one.