Abstract:The effect of stirring frequency on the semi-solid A357 aluminum alloy microstructure was investigated by annulus electromagnetic stirring(AEMS) method. The microstructures obtained by AEMS method and ordinary electromagnetic stirring(EMS)method were compared and analyzed. The results show that the primary α(Al) particles become more spherical and fine, and disperse uniformly in a liquid matrix with increasing stirring frequency, and higher stirring frequency is advantageous to obtain the fine spherical semi-solid microstructure by AEMS. Compared with the microstructures obtained at stirring frequency of 50 Hz in EMS, the fine spherical and uniformly distributed semi-solid microstructures can be still obtained at stirring frequency of 50 Hz in AEMS, so stirring frequency of 50 Hz is recommended in AEMS to save investment cost on frequency-conversion facilities.

Key words: A357 aluminum alloy; semi-solid; electromagnetic stirring; slurry preparation