Flow Behaviour of M2 Steel Alloy during Semi Solid Isothermal Rapid Compression
The key to all semisolid processes is spherical and non-dendritic particles suspended in a liquid matrix. This special kind of microstructure causes the semisolid material to behave like a non-Newtonian fluid dependent on time and shear rate. Semi solid metal processing gives less shrinkage and porosity, non-macro segregation, lower flow stress, good formability and increased die life compared with conventional production methods. Therefore, semi solid processing introduces a good option for massive forming of high temperature alloys. Here, by partial remelting of M2 tool steel alloy under rapid compression test, deformation mechanism of steel alloy and its correlation to rheological properties were investigated. Flow stress for M2 tool steel alloy corresponding to solid fraction above 55% derived at constant strain rate and holding time. In order to investigate the parameter involved in this process, in the second stage of experiments the ram speed and holding time are variable. The analysis of the derived curves shows that the semisolid slurries exhibit a pseudo plastic behavior dependent on stain rate and temperature. The classical power law model used to describe the rheological and thixotropic dependence.