Critical Assessment 32: Controling the melting behaviour of cast structures through solid-state deformation

Abstract

The role of solid-state deformation of cast structures in controlling the morphological transformations, accompanying their subsequent melting is critically assessed. When dendritic morphologies, present after casting, are subjected to solid-state deformation with a strain level sufficient to trigger recrystallisation, they are replaced by equiaxed grain structures. Heating of such structures to temperatures of the solidus-liquidus range initiates melting at triple junctions and along grain boundaries, causing disappearance of dendrites, which are replaced by globular features. The semisolid slurry formed this way exhibits thixotropic properties, positively affecting its flow behaviour and properties after solidification. Although a variety of conventional and exotic deformation techniques generate very fine grain structure after recrystallisation, it does not lead to substantial differences in morphological characteristics of the semisolid slurry.