The Incremental Melting and Solidification Process (IMSP) is a relatively new field for
material processing for the production of functionally graded materials. In this process a controlled
liquid bath is maintained at the top of the component where new materials are added changing the
components composition. Thus, a functionally graded material is obtained with a varying
composition along one direction of the component. This paper deals with the influence of one of the
process parameters, namely displacement rates between heating coil and mould, in order to evaluate
its influence on both metallurgical and mechanical properties of different Al-Si alloys. Hardness and
phase distribution, along the main castings axis, were measured. To better assess and characterize
the process, two different Al-Si alloys with and without variation of chemical composition along the
specimen were analysed. Results demonstrate that a gradual variation of metallurgical and
mechanical properties along the component is obtained. It is also shown that Al-Si functionally
graded materials can be produced by the incremental melting and solidification process. Results
show that the displacement rate is very important on metallurgical and mechanical properties of the
obtained alloy.
Structural Analysis and Characterization of Functionally Graded Materials
