Thixoforming Semi-solid Metal Processing

Offering a sound technological overview, while also including the fundamental aspects, this book provides the knowledge needed to master the highly challenging process characteristics for successful application in industrial production. It summarizes the first-hand experience gained from twelve years of collaborative research covering materials science, rheology, casting and forming, control and surface technology as well as the modeling of flow behavior, tool engineering and systems engineering, and thus treats all the vital aspects of this field. For materials scientists, physicists, engineers, and those working in the metal processing industry.

Gerhard Hirt is Professor at the Institute of Metal Forming of RWTH Aachen University, Germany, since 2004 and currently serves as the speaker of the collaborative research centre SFB289 "Thixoforming". He studied mechanical engineering at the RWTH and received his Ph.D. in the field of direct strip casting at the Institute of Metal Forming in 1988. His research activities include work in the field of semi-solid metal forming from 1991 to 1999 during his position as general manager of EFU GmbH, a company offering equipment and R&D service in metal casting and forming. From 1999 until 2004 he was Professor for Materials Technology and Precision Forming of Saarland University in Saarbr++cken.


Reiner Kopp is Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Metal Forming at the RWTH Aachen University, where he served as Full Professor, Vice President of RWTH and as Dean of the Faculty of Mining, Metallurgy and Geoscience. He took up his academic activities after an industrial career as Head of Production Technology R&D Department at Dornier GmbH. His further activities include several chairmanships and advisory board memberships, e.g., at ThyssenKrupp Stainless. Likewise notable is his involvement in the Board of German Academy of Technical Sciences, Acatech, and vice chairmanship of the international organisation Euro-CASE. He is also a member of the Academy of Sciences of North Rhine Westphalia and the Academy Cirp.

THIXOFORMING - AN OVERVIEW BASICIS OF SEMISOLID METAL FORMING Metallurgical Aspects of Semisolid Metal Alloy Design Material Aspects for Thixoforming of Steel Alloy Design of Al- and Al-Li Materials for Thixoforming Thermochemically Based Simulation of Phase Development SIMULATION OF SEMISOLID FLOW BEHAVIOR Numerical Modeling of Material Behavior Physical and Micromechanical Modeling for Semisolid Behavior TOOL TECHNOLOGIES FOR SEMISOLID FORMING Optimized Tool Concepts for Forming of Semisolid Metals Process-adapted PVD and PECVD Coatings Application of Ceramic Tools for Semisolid Metal Forming FORMING OF SEMISOLD METALS Thixo- and Rheocasting of Aluminum and Ferrous Materials Thixo- and Rheoforging of Aluminum and Ferrous Materials Thixoextrusion