Rheological Behavior and Fluidity of Semi-Solid SiCp/A357 Composites with Different SiC Addition Levels

Abstract

The apparent viscosities of the semi-solid SiCp/A357 composites with 0vol.%, 10vol.% and 20vol.% SiC particles manufactured by stir casting were investigated using a Couette type viscometer, and the composite fluidity was examined with a test casting. The results showed that, the viscosities of the semi-solid SiCp/A357 composites decreased with an increase in shear rate, but increased with the increasing of solid fraction, and apparent viscosity of 10vol.% SiCp/A357 composite was the lower than that of 20vol.% SiCp/A357 composite at the same solid fraction; and the composite fluidity results were in a good agreement with the viscosity ones.