The effect of local pressurization on mechanical properties and fracture behavior of indirect squeeze-cast A354 alloy has been investigated. As compared to conventional process, the porosity and shrinkage cavity for heavy sectioned squeeze castings were improved by the indirect squeeze casting, while its tensile properties were inferior to other parts of the casting. That is mainly due to that inhomogeneous eutectic Si particles within strip, angular and fragment shapes distribute in bulky α-Al cells, which is caused by slower solidification rate. After T6 treatment, the fragmentation and spheroidization of the eutectic silicon happened. Under this situation, the effect of fragmentation on α-Al matrix reduced. Tensile properties of the casting (both local pressurization part and non-local pressurization part) were enhanced greatly, by 36.8% and 25.4%, respectively. Fracture analysis results show that the type of fracture morphology is changed from mixed mode of brittle cleavage and ductile to ductile mode after T6-treatment.
Tensile Properties of Forged Direct-Squeeze-Cast Al-(6.0∼8.0 mass%)Si-(0.3∼0.52 mass%)Mg Alloy