Rare Earth Refine The Semi-solid Zl101 Aluminum Alloy

As an emerging technology, semi-solid metal processing is getting fashionable in the field of research nowadays. It is of vital importance to gain the microstructures of fine globular primary phase in the semisolid metal processing. In this article, the effect of grain refining, solidification condition on primaryα-Al morphology in ZL101 Al alloy used widely in industry were experimentally investigated. The refining mechanism of RE the spheral structure formation mechanism were theoretically analyzed. The optimal refining modification additive and appropriate experiment conditions for spheral primaryα-Al were confirmed. Which provided research and theory foundation for industrialization of semi-solid ZL101 Al alloy.The experiments results showed that the morphology of primaryα-Al in ZL101 Al alloy was significantly improved by RE refining at 200 seconds holding time and 618℃pouring ; The Sc was optimized to 0.6wt% of Sc addition and 60 seconds holding 590℃,Under these conditions, the average equal-area-circle grain diameter of primaryα-Al in ZL101 Al alloy was approximately 29.91μm and its average morphology factor was approximately 0.94. While adding the mixed RE into ZL101 Al alloy, the optimum pouring temperature ,holding time and mixed RE content, were respectively 590℃, 200 seconds and 0.5wt%, and its average morphology factor was approximately 0.78.Under these conditions: at 618℃pouring 590℃and holding 200 seconds,the optimal contents of Y2O3 additions were 1.5wt% in the alloy,The best morphology of primaryα-Al in ZL101 Al alloy was obtained and the average equal-area-circle grain diameter of primaryα-Al in ZL101 Al alloy was approximately 22.48μm. While adding Pr into ZL101 Al alloy, the optimal contents of Pr additions were 0.3wt% in the alloy and its average morphology factor was approximately 0.86.The experiment proved that the fine uniform spheral primaryα-Al was obtained by adding 0.3 wt %Sc+0.2 wt %Zr into ZL101 Al alloy.The characteristic of this article was that the fine uniform spheral primaryα-Al in ZL101 Al alloy was obtained by grain refining at low superheat pouring and the new refining mechanism of RE. It provide a reliable theoretical basis and approaches for Semi-solid alloy technological inventions and technological innovation.