ISSN:
1662-9779
Source:
Scientific.Net: Materials Science & Technology / Trans Tech Publications Archiv 1984-2008
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
In recent years several attempts were made to transfer the thixoforming technology of steel partsinto industrial applicable processes. This paper gives an overview about the progress of a Europeanconsortium that established a fully automated thixoforming process for the series production ofautomotive steel parts. Due to the multi-faceted nature of this technology, problems concerning thedevelopment of suitable steel grades and tool materials as well as the development and applicationof an inductive heating system, a handling unit and of a complex forming tool had to be solved.Besides the development of adapted steel grades and the inductive heating, the handling of the semisolid billets plays a special role because during the manipulation of the parts from the heating stationinto the tool a loss of heat is unavoidable. Furthermore, scaling of the parts must be prevented.By means of a fully automated process line existing constraints were reduced and the forming processis kept reproducible.Improved silicon nitride composites have been developed as a tool material, which show good mechanicalproperties in combination with an acceptable chemical stability at the occurring processtemperatures as well as in contact with semi solid steel.Basing on the practical experience a comparison of the thixoforming technology to existing processesand an outlook for the future are given
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://www.tib-hannover.de/fulltexts/2011/0528/02/22/transtech_doi~10.4028%252Fwww.scientific.net%252FSSP.116-117.686.pdf
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