Assessment of Mechanisms for Particle Migration in Semi-Solid High Pressure Die Cast Aluminium-Silicon Alloys

In semi-solid metal high pressure die casting and in conventional high pressure die casting, it is common to find a defect band just below the surface of the component. The formation of these bands is not fully understood. However, there are several theories as how they occur, and it has been suggested that segregation is caused by the migration of aluminium-rich externally solidified crystals. In the present work the formation of these bands is investigated theoretically by reviewing suitable potential mechanisms for the migration of such crystals. Two mechanisms are identified as the most probable: Saffman lift force and the Mukai-Lin-Laplace effect. However, it was not possible to identify which of these two mechanisms acted in the case studies. Further testing is required to identify the mechanism that is causing the migration of the aluminium globules and suitable tests are proposed.