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Experimental investigation of thixoforging parameters effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the helical gearbox cap

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Abstract

The purpose of this work is to discuss the microstructures and mechanical properties of thixoforged helical gearbox caps. The mechanical properties of semi-solid components can be improved by controlling the process parameters such as solid fraction of alloy, die temperature, applied pressure, punch velocity, and heat treatment conditions. In this paper, the effects of forming parameters on the microstructures and mechanical properties of thixoforged A356 helical gearbox caps with an arbitrary shape are studied. The mechanical characteristics were investigated by changing the applied pressure, die temperature, specimen temperature and holding time. The results showed that by increasing the applied pressure from 100 MPa to 150 MPa, the average grain diameter was decreased about 7% and the shape factor was increased about 11%. Also, by increasing the die temperature, the hardness and forming load were decreased about 13% and 21%, respectively. The results illustrated that by increasing the specimen temperature and holding time, there would be an increase in the grain size of primary α-Al phase, so the hardness of the specimens is decreased.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol University of Technology, Babol, 47148-71167, Iran

    A. Kolahdooz, S. Nourouzi, M. Bakhshi Jooybari & S. J. Hosseinipour

Authors
  1. A. Kolahdooz
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  2. S. Nourouzi
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  3. M. Bakhshi Jooybari
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  4. S. J. Hosseinipour
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Nourouzi.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Youngseog Lee

Salman Nourouzi is an associate professor of metallurgy and materials engineering at Babol University of Technology in Iran. His subjects of interest include semi-solid forming, thermal spray coating, and heat treatment of metallic alloys.

Amin Kolahdooz is a Ph.D. student of Mechanical Engineering at Babol University of Technology in Iran. His research interests are in area machining, Design and manufacturing, and semisolid forming.

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Kolahdooz, A., Nourouzi, S., Bakhshi Jooybari, M. et al. Experimental investigation of thixoforging parameters effects on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the helical gearbox cap. J MECH SCI TECHNOL 28, 4257–4265 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0939-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-014-0939-z

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