Mushy/semi-solid metal forming technology - Present and future

Mushy, semi-solid and / or thixo processing of metals (alloys) is becoming popular as a new potential manufacturing technology for parts and components in automobile, electronic and machine industries. Internal structures and mechanical properties of those metals that include solid and liquid fractions are quite different from those of hot or molten metals. Diversified possibilities are known today to process those metals based on die casting, hot metal forming or polymer injection technologies, each of which has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. Up to now thixocasting and thixomolding have been used in industrial applications for light metal alloys. The potentials of those processes are wider by far however. They include the processing of specially designed alloys and composites, the combination of forming and joining processes as well as reduction of production costs and energy consumption.