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The traditional solution treatment cycles that are currently applied to rheo-processed A201 are mostly those that are used for conventional castings. These solution treatments are not necessarily the optimum solution treatments for rheo-processing. As a result, DSC analysis was done to optimize this heat treatment. The new solution treatment, which consists of higher temperatures and shorter times (515°C/5h, followed by 570°C/10h), resulted in slightly higher hardness values for both alloy A206 and A201.

Rheocasting of plates in Al alloy 359 reinforced with SiC at 11%, 27% and 50% (volume fractions) exhibits the capability of the council for scientific and industrial research-rheocasting system(CSIR-RCS) in rheo-processing and high pressure die casting of SiC metal matrix composites. The metal matrix consisting of nearly spherical proeutectic α(Al) globules was produced. Spheroidization of fibrous eutectic silicon took place upon heat treatment of the as-cast metal matrix composites(MMCs). Hardness increases as the volume fractions of SiC increases. Wear rates of the MMCs in the F and T6 heat treatment conditions were assessed with a metallographic preparation machine. It is found that the 11% SiC MMC wear rate is higher on SiC abrasives compared with the 50% SiC MMC wear rate due to wear of the aluminum matrix. This trend is reversed on diamond abrasives due to pull-out of the irregular shaped composite particles. The 50% SiC MMC suffers from composite particle fracture porosity after high pressure die casting (HPDC).

The Council for Science and Industrial Research has developed and patented a rheocasting process. The process involves the preparation of semi-solid slurries from liquid metal, by controlled cooling and MHD stirring using induction coils. An industrial prototype was designed and built to test the system in an industrial environment. A semi-solid high pressure die casting cell was set up with an industrial partner and the system was tested under normal production conditions. The production cell consisted of the CSIR rheocasting system, a six axis robot, dosing furnace and 400 ton H-400SC shot controlled Bühler HPDC machine. An engine mounting bracket originally designed for liquid HPDC was redesigned for SSM forming (casting) taking into consideration the flow and thermal behaviour of semi-solid casting process, the function of the component and the required mechanical properties. Although a full production run was not completed due to an ancillary equipment failure, sufficient castings were produced to perform preliminary evaluation of the components. The processing parameters used were, die temperature of 250°C, SSM casting temperature of 580°C ±1Cº and a piston injection velocity of 0.13 m/s. Initial evaluation showed evidence of casting defects due to a combination of factors: die design/manufacture, casting parameters and poor foundry practice. From the mechanical tests it was evident that if the die design, casting parameters and foundry practice are optimized components with adequate mechanical properties can be reliably produced.

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