Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-10-18T15:37:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SIUMARA RODRIGUES ALCÂNTARA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEA 2008..pdf: 9760309 bytes, checksum: 3c00d833a82841dcdf4d92435feff3e2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-10-18T15:37:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SIUMARA RODRIGUES ALCÂNTARA - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEA 2008..pdf: 9760309 bytes, checksum: 3c00d833a82841dcdf4d92435feff3e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01 / Capes / Dentre as diversas influências observadas no processo de fermentação semisólida, a atividade de água é um dos fatores mais importantes, pois está diretamente relacionada com a quantidade de água disponível ao microrganismo responsável pela síntese do produto. Assim, objetivou-se a produção de pectinases, usando o pedúnculo de caju seco como meio e o Aspergillus niger CCT 0916 como microrganismo, em um processo fermentativo semi-sólido, verificando a influência da quantidade de água e uma fonte de nitrogénio. Com isso, fez-se a caracterização físico-química do resíduo, o levantamento e ajuste das isotermas de adsorção, o cálculo do calor isostérico total e, verificou-se a influência da umidade inicial e a concentração de sulfato de amónio no meio através da execução de um planejamento fatorial 2 . Observou-se que a caracterização do pedúnculo indicou a necessidade do ajuste da concentração de açúcares redutores e da pectina. O modelo de GAB foi o que melhor ajustou as isotermas de adsorção. A atividade poligalacturonásica máxima foi obtida com atividade de água entre 0,99 e 1,00 e a atividade pectinolítica foi obtida com atividade de água igual a 0,99. Ocorreu inibição pela presença do sulfato de amónio no meio fermentativo com concentrações a partir de 1,5%, tendo apresentado efeito negativo sobre as atividades enzimáticas observadas. Diferentemente da umidade inicial que apresentou efeito positivo sobre as mesmas. Os maiores valores de atividade enzimática foram 11 U/g. Constatou-se também que o bagaço seco do pedúnculo do caju é um substrato competitivo perante outros descritos na literatura. / The water acíivity is one of the most important factor in this process, because it is related with the quantity of available water for the microorganism responsible for the synthesis of the product because the larges quantities of the agro industrial residues. In this context, this work has the objective the production of pectinases, using the cashew peduncle like substratum and the Aspergillus niger CCT 0916 like microorganism, in a solid-state fermentation process, checking the influence of water quantity and nitrogen source. It had done the physiochemical characterization of the residue, the construction and adjusts of the adsorption isotherms, the calculation of the isosteric heat and had checked the influence of the initial moisture and the ammonium sulphate concentration in the médium by factorial design. It observed that the peduncle characterization showed the necessity of adjust of reducing sugar and pectin. The best equation to fit the adsorption isotherms were GAB model. The maximum poligalacturonase activity was obtained with water activity between 0.99 and 1.00. The maximum pectinolytic activity was obtained with 0.99 of water activity. It was observed that occurred inhibition in the médium by presence of ammonium sulphate with concentration equal and over 1.5%. This variable showed negative effect on enzymatic activity. In the other hand, the inicial moisture showed positive effect on the same response. The most values of enzymatic activity were 11 U/g. It had evidenced that the dry bagasse of the cashew peduncle is a competitive substratum.

The vehicles industry is facing increasing demands for fuel efficiency and cost reduction due to environmental legislation, sustainability and customer demands. Therefore, there is a great need to develop and produce lightweight components by using materials and processes that offer higher specific strength and/or design optimization. Semi‐solid aluminium casting offers design freedom and castings with lower shrinkage and gas entrapment defects compared to high pressure die castings. The lack of understanding of microstructure and defect formation, and design data, for semi‐solid castings is a barrier for foundries and designers in the vehicles industry to use semi‐solid castings. In this study, the effect of two grain refiners on slurry formation and surface segregation of semi‐solid Al‐7Si‐0.3Mg castings produced by the Rheometal™ process was evaluated. The influence of grain refinement on primary α‐Al grain size, shape factor and solid fraction was analysed in addition to the solute content of the surface segregation layer. The influence of magnesium on the formation of intermetallic phases during solidification and the heat treatment response of Al‐7Si‐Mg semi‐solid castings was investigated. The magnesium content was varied from 0.3 to 0.6wt.% and the semi-solid castings were analysed in the T5 and T6 conditions. Energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to identify the intermetallic phases formed during solidification. Tensile testing was performed and the results were correlated to the magnesium and silicon concentration measured in the interior of the α‐Al globules formed during slurry preparation. The results suggest that the addition of grain refiner decreases the solid fraction obtained in the Rheometal™ process. However, no significant effect was observed on the α‐Al grain size and shape factor. A good correlation was obtained between the magnesium concentration in the interior of the α‐Al globules formed during slurry preparation and the offset yield strength for all alloys. The low magnesium solubility in α‐Al at temperatures in the solidification range of the Al‐7Si‐Mg alloys is suggested to be the reason for the low hardening response for the T5 heat treatment compared to the T6 condition.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T18:55:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 Loana dal Carobo Sagrilo Bochi.pdf: 2194689 bytes, checksum: ce4526127c8a88666e69326bfc098071 (MD5) Loana dal Carobo Sagrilo Bochi.pdf.txt: 265229 bytes, checksum: 798810f5db9d07650f354ee020e49ab1 (MD5) Loana dal Carobo Sagrilo Bochi.pdf.jpg: 3867 bytes, checksum: 1e3a0402fd162a5a13f8e4265e6b57b0 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory-drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in situations that require anti-inflammatory and / or analgesic activity, such as arthritic disorders, posttraumatic or acute musculoskeletal disorders. However, NSAIDs can trigger gastrointestinal toxicity when treated orally. This work aimed at developing and characterizing a topical semi-solid formulation containing meloxicam nanocapsulate, and assesses the physical-chemical stability and determines the period of validity. In addition, this study sought to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the hydrofilic gel containing meloxicam nanocapsulate (HGNCM), by oral route, using the model of writhing induced by acetic acid in mice. Through the physical-chemical analysis, suspensions containing meloxicam nanocapsulate showed appropriate and satisfactory features for incorporation into semi-solid databases. Samples were stored at room temperature (25 ± 2 ° C) and oven (40 ± 2 ° C and 75 ± 5% RH) for 180 days and analyzed every 30 days regarding its physical-chemical, organoleptic, rheological characteristics and content of the drug. These parameters were compared with the formulations containing meloxicam in free (HGM). The average diameter of particles and pH of HGNCM remained stable during 180 days of analysis, at both temperatures, but the pH of the HGM was reduced significantly when stored in an oven. The zeta potential of HGNCM had its negative charge increased after 180 days of analysis, at both temperatures. The HGNCM remained organoleptic characteristics by a period of time much larger than the HGM. Both HGNCM and HGM presented as a flow and non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior. The viscosity values were reduced significantly during the experiment for both formulations stored in an oven. The rheological characteristics were more stable for HGNCM than HGM, during 180 days of analysis at both temperatures. The analysis of the content (%) of HGNCM indicated that the NC may be exerting a protective action against the drug, allowing the maintenance of content above 90% even for the formulations stored 180 days in emissions compared to HGM. The validity estimate was higher for the HGNCM, both at room temperature and an oven and presented an antinociceptive effect more pronounced and prolonged when compared with the HGM. Through the results, we can conclude that the incorporation of meloxicam nanocapsulate in a hydrogel formulation presented satisfactory physical-chemical characteristics and stability, representing technological feasibility for the pharmaceutical area. / Os fármacos anti-inflamatórios não-esteroides (AINES) são amplamente utilizados nas situações que requeiram atividade anti-inflamatória e/ou analgésica, tais como doenças artríticas, distúrbios pós-traumáticos ou músculo-esqueléticos agudos. Todavia, os AINES podem desencadear toxicidade gastrintestinal quando tratados por via oral. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo principal desenvolver e caracterizar uma formulação tópica semissólida contendo nanocápsulas (NC) de meloxicam, bem como avaliar a estabilidade físico-química e determinar o prazo de validade da mesma. Além disso, o presente estudo pretendeu avaliar a atividade antinociceptiva do gel hidrofílico contendo meloxicam nanoencapsulado (GHNCM), através da via oral, utilizando o modelo de contorções abdominais induzida por ácido acético em camundongos. Através da análise físico-química, as suspensões contendo NC de meloxicam demonstraram características adequadas e satisfatórias para a incorporação nas bases semissólidas. As amostras foram armazenadas à temperatura ambiente (25 ± 2 °C) e em estufa (40 ± 2 °C e 75 ± 5% UR) durante 180 dias e analisadas a cada 30 dias com relação às características físico-químicas, organolépticas, reológicas e teor do fármaco. Estes parâmetros foram comparados com as formulações contendo o meloxicam na forma livre (GHM). O diâmetro médio das partículas e os valores de pH do GHNCM mantiveram-se estáveis durante 180 dias de análise, em ambas as temperaturas, porém os valores de pH do GHM sofreram uma redução significativa quando armazenados em estufa. O potencial zeta do GHNCM teve sua carga negativa aumentada após 180 dias de análise, em ambas as temperaturas. O GHNCM manteve as características organolépticas por um período de tempo muito maior que o GHM. Tanto o GHNCM como o GHM apresentaram um fluxo não-newtoniano e comportamento pseudoplástico. Os valores de viscosidade apresentaram redução significativa no decorrer do experimento para ambas as formulações armazenadas em estufa. As características reológicas mostraram-se bem mais estáveis para o GHNCM do que para o GHM, durante 180 dias de análise em ambas as temperaturas. A análise do teor (%) do GHNCM permitiu indicar que as NC podem estar exercendo uma ação protetora frente ao fármaco, permitindo a manutenção de seu teor acima de 90% até mesmo para as formulações armazenadas 180 dias em estufa, quando comparadas ao GHM. O prazo de validade estimado foi superior para o GHNCM, tanto em temperatura ambiente, quanto em estufa, assim como apresentou um efeito antinociceptivo mais prolongado e acentuado quando em comparação com o GHM. Através dos resultados, pode-se concluir que a incorporação das NC de meloxicam em uma formulação de hidrogel apresentou características físico-químicas e estabilidade satisfatórias, representando viabilidade tecnológica para a área

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T18:56:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Isabel Roggia.pdf: 2537332 bytes, checksum: de40e0aad80f6e3c3604e12b7f9fd9fa (MD5) Isabel Roggia.pdf.jpg: 3114 bytes, checksum: 8a3ab532420db5e246f4c91fd17d8d0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The nanocosmetic products can contain nanostructured actives, presenting superior properties in relation to the conventional cosmetics, improving already existing formulations, increasing and its safety and effectiveness. Is this way, the sunscreens have been extensively investigated, due to its frequent and prolonged use. This work presents as main objective evaluate the in vitro release and skin permeation of the benzophenone-3 in polymeric nanoparticles, incorporated in different semi-solid formulations using, as membrane, cellulose acetate and abdominal human skin, respectively. This work also included physico-chemical stability studies, assessment of organoleptic characteristic, rheological assessment and determination of the term validity. The dosage technique of BZ3 in spectrophotometer was validated in all analyzed parameters and the results obtained met the specifications for linearity, precision, robustness and accuracy. The BZ3 concentration in the semi-solid formulations decreased for all formulations in the course of the experiment, both the nanoencapsulated BZ3 as in the free. The organoletptic characteristics and the pH were kept for all the formulations in study. The viscosity values did not altered for the formulations of hydrogel (HGNCBZ3) and gel cream (CGNCBZ3) containing encapsulated BZ3. The viscosity for hydrogel formulation containing BZ3 in the free form (HGBZ3) presented a significant increase. The spreading values remained stable for all the tested formulations, both for the nanoencapsulated active as in the free form. The formulations containing nanoencapsulated BZ3 presented greater term validity than formulations with BZ3 in the free form. Through studies of release was observed that the formulations containing BZ3 in the form encapsulated presented a lower release than free form. The formulations containing BZ3 in the free form, did not present a significant difference for the flow values in the different vehicles. It was still observed, that the BZ3 incorporated in the HGNCBZ3 presented a greater releasing flow, when compared with CGNCBZ3 and ESNCBZ3, showing that the vehicle may to influence in the behavior of the nanocarrier release. The skin permeation of the BZ3 incorporated in the gel cream was similar as much for the free form as encapsulated. The encapsulated BZ3 presented a greater concentration in the cornea extract. These results correspond to those found by Paese (2008) when the experiments were performed using pig s membrane, reaffirming the interchangeability between the membranes used for the permeation studies with nanoestrutured systens. / Os produtos nanocosméticos podem veicular ativos nanoestruturados, apresentando propriedades superiores em relação aos cosméticos convencionais, proporcionando melhora das formulações já existentes, aumentando sua segurança e eficácia. Desta forma, os protetores solares têm sido extensivamente investigados, em função do uso frequente e prolongado dos mesmos. Este trabalho apresenta como objetivo principal avaliar a liberação e a permeação cutânea in vitro da benzofenona-3 (BZ3) em nanopartículas poliméricas, incorporadas em diferentes formulações semissólidas, usando como membrana acetato de celulose e pele abdominal humana, respectivamente. Este trabalho incluiu ainda estudos de estabilidade físico-química, avaliação das características organolépticas, avaliações reológicas e determinação do prazo de validade das formulações. A técnica de doseamento da BZ3 em espectrofotômetro foi validada em todos os parâmetros analisados e os resultados atenderam as especificações de linearidade, precisão, exatidão e robustez. A concentração de BZ3 nas formulações semissólidas diminuiu em todas as formulações no decorrer dos experimentos, tanto para o ativo incorporado na forma livre, como na forma nanoencapsulada. As características organolépticas e o pH foram mantidos para todas as formulações em estudo. Os valores de viscosidade não sofreram alterações para as formulações de hidrogel (HGNCBZ3) e creme gel (CGNCBZ3) contendo a benzofenona na forma nanoencapsulada. Para as formulações de hidrogel contendo BZ3 na forma livre (HGBZ3) houve um aumento significativo de viscosidade. Os valores de espalhabilidade mantiveram-se estáveis para todas as formulações testadas, tanto para o ativo na forma livre como nanoencapsulada. As formulações contendo a BZ3 nanoencapsulada apresentaram um prazo de validade maior do que as formulações com a BZ3 na forma livre. Através dos estudos de liberação, observou-se que as formulações contendo a BZ3 na forma nanoencapsulada apresentaram uma liberação menor em relação a sua forma livre. As formulações contendo a BZ3 na forma livre, não apresentaram diferença significativa para os valores de fluxo nos diferentes veículos. Foi observado ainda, que a BZ3 incorporada no HGNCBZ3 apresentou um fluxo de liberação maior, quando comparada com o CGNCBZ3 e a ESNCBZ3, demonstrando que o veículo pode influenciar o comportamento de liberação dos nanocarreadores. A permeação cutânea da BZ3 incorporada no creme gel foi semelhante tanto para forma livre como encapsulada. A BZ3 nanoencapsulada apresentou uma maior concentração no estrato córneo. Estes resultados correspondem aos encontrados por PAESE (2008), quando os experimentos foram realizados com membrana de porco, reafirmando a intercambialidade entre as membranas utilizadas para os estudos de permeação com sistemas nanoestruturados.

Orientador: Eugenio Jose Zoqui / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T07:13:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lourencato_LucianoAugusto_D.pdf: 4117000 bytes, checksum: d85fa4a2f9e10a3f3b1d938cfe1b9949 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta uma análise da viabilidade do emprego de quatro ligas Al- Si-Mg como matéria-prima tixoconformável, e a utilização destas em tixoforjamento em prensa do tipo excêntrica em matriz do tipo aberta. As quatro ligas Al-Si-Mg, com 1, 2, 4 e 7wt%Si e 0,5wt%Mg, foram produzidas por ultra-refino (adição de Al-5wt%Ti- 1wt%B), e a avaliação da tixoformabilidade foi efetuada em quatro etapas distintas: ensaios de globularização sob duas frações sólidas e quatro tempos distintos; ensaios de viscosidade nas mesmas condições; ensaios de tixoforjamento e ensaios de tração da peça tixoforjada. Uma das principais inovações do trabalho é a execução do tixoforjamento em prensa excêntrica com a matriz do tipo aberta. Os resultados mostraram o melhor efeito do refino para ligas com teores de Si inferiores a 4%. A avaliação morfológica realizada, baseada nos valores de RQI, mostrou que não há grande variação morfológica para os distintos tempos de globularização, sugerindo que a liga Al-4,0wt%Si-0,5wt%Mg é a condição mais adequada para o tixoforjamento. A morfologia da fase sólida é o principal fator para o controle do comportamento viscoso. Ligas com menores fs e morfologia globulares apresentam menores valores de viscosidade aparente. Os ensaios de tixoforjamento mostraram que a força necessária em sua execução é praticamente constante, independentemente do tempo de globularização e fração sólida. O maior tempo de tratamento induziu à peça maior quantidade de rebarbas, além de tornar mais difícil a execução. Ligas com 45% de fração sólida apresentaram um melhor preenchimento de matriz. Resultados também mostraram que as ligas tixoforjadas a um menor tempo de globularização em menor fração sólida apresentaram melhores limites de escoamento. A liga 4wt%Si submetida ao tratamento de globularização com o tempo de 0s para a fs 45% apresentou a melhor morfologia (RQI-0,58), a melhor viscosidade (1,7 . 105Pa.s), a melhor tixoformabilidade e bom limite de escoamento (115MPa). / Abstract: This thesis presents an analysis of the feasibility of employment of four Al-Si-Mg alloys as thixoforming raw material, and the use these alloys in thixoforging in an eccentric press using a matrix-type open. The four Al-Si-Mg alloys, with 1, 2, 4 and 7wt% Si and 0.5 wt% Mg, were produced by ultra-refining (addition of Al-5wt% Ti-1wt% B), and the evaluation of the thixoformability was made in four distinct stages: testing the globularization under two solid fractions and four different times; trials of viscosity under the same conditions; thixoforging tests and tension tests of the thixoforged piece. One of the main innovations of the work is the implementation of thixoforging in an eccentric press with the matrix-type open. The results showed the best effect of refining for alloys with lower levels of Si to 4%. The morphological evaluation performed, based on values of RQI, showed that there is little morphological variation to the different times of globularization used, suggesting that Al-4,0wt% Si-0,5wt% Mg is the best condition for thixoforging. The morphology of the solid phase is the main factor for the control of the viscous behavior. Alloys with lower fs and globular morphology presents lower values of viscosity. Thixoforging tests showed that the force required for its implementation is almost constant, regardless globularization and solid fraction. The longest time of treatment led to a greater overflow in the piece, and more difficult to implement the thixoforging operation. Alloys with 45% of solid fraction had better filling behaviour in the matrix. Results also showed that the thixoforged pieces with lower globularization time and lower solid fraction had higher yield strain. The 4wt% Si alloy subjected to the globularization treatment at time of 0s for 45% fs presented the best morphology (RQI-0.58), the best viscosity (1.7 105Pa.s), the best and good thixoformability behaviour and the a good yield strain (115MPa). / Doutorado / Materiais e Processos de Fabricação / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

Conventional casting alloys Al-7Si-Mg A356/7 contain between 6.5 and 7.5% Si, together with 0.25-0.7% Mg and are used for critical castings in the automotive and aerospace industries. These alloys are also the most popular alloys used for semi-solid metal (SSM) forming due to good castability and fluidity imparted by the large volumes of the Al-Si eutectic. Despite their industrial importance, there is a lack of detailed research work revealing precipitate micro- and nanostructural evolution during aging of these alloys compared with the Al-Mg-Si 6000 series wrought alloys. This study characterises the heat treatment response of SSM-processed Al-7Si-Mg alloys in comparison with conventionally liquid cast alloys (investment casting and gravity die casting). It is shown that, provided that the maximum quantity of the alloy’s Mg is placed into solid solution during solution treatment, and that the alloy’s Fe content is within specification, the response to age hardening of Al-7Si-Mg alloys is independent of the processing technique used. The nanostructural evolution of Al- 7Si-Mg alloys after artificial aging with and without natural pre-aging has been characterized using transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography and correlated with hardness and mechanical tensile properties. The number densities and Mg:Si ratios of solute clusters, GP zones and β"-needles were determined. The heat treatment response of SSM-processed casting alloys A356/7 alloys are also compared with SSM-processed Al-Mg-Si 6000 series wrought alloys, with the advantage of having similar globular microstructures. The high Si-content of the casting alloys compared to the wrought alloys offers several advantages, including a faster artificial aging response (shorter T6 aging cycles), higher strength for comparable Mg contents and less sensitivity to prior natural aging on peak strength. Finally, an age-hardening model was developed for the Al-7Si-Mg alloys, including a method of incorporating the effects of changes in Mg-content on the aging curves. / Thesis (PhD(Eng))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / unrestricted

The challenges of weight reduction and good strength in automotive industry have drawn considerable interest in thixocasting technologies. Joining of such components with conventional fusion welding creates voids, hot cracking, distortion in shape, and more importantly evolution of dendritic microstructure that ultimately would lead to inferior mechanical properties of the weld region. Thus, the purpose of making thixocast component is lost. The friction welding which is a solid state joining process can avoid defects associated with melting and solidification in a typical fusion weld and can be a promising alternative. This process produces a weld under compressive force at the contact of workpieces rotating or moving relative to one another to produce heat and plastically displacing material from the faying surfaces. Research on semisolid processing has its origin in the early 1970s. However, from the literature survey on semisolid processing it is clear that, till date, not much work has been done in field of joining of semisolid processed components. In the area of solid state welding, in particular, it is not at all explored. In view of this, the present work is focused on exploration of joining of Thixocast A356 Aluminium alloy component by friction welding and comparison of its performance with friction weld of conventionally cast sample of the same alloy. The study is carried out experimentally as well as numerically. Moreover, the material behaviour of thixocast component at elevated temperature in solid state is also described with the help of processing maps and constitutive modelling. The hot workability of thixocast and conventionally cast A356 alloy is evaluated with the help of processing maps developed on the basis of the dynamic materials model approach using the flow stress data obtained from the isothermal compression test in wide range of temperature (300-500℃) and strain rates (0.001s-1-10s-1). The domains of the processing map are interpreted in terms of the associated microstructural mechanism. On comparing the flow stress at elevated temperature of thixocast and conventionally cast A356 alloy samples, it is observed that the flow stress of the latter showed higher value at different strain level, temperature and strain rates. This indicates that the flow property of the thixocast alloy sample is better than that of the conventionally cast one (i.e. response to plastic flow is better for the former); while at room temperature thixocast sample has higher strength. Moreover to investigate the general nature of the influence of strain, strain rate and temperature on the compressive deformation characteristics of thixocast A356 and conventionally cast A356 aluminium alloy, a comprehensive model describing the relationship of the flow stress, strain rate and temperature of the alloys at elevated temperatures is proposed by hyperbolic-sine Arrhenius-type equation and Johnson-Cook model. The validity of descriptive results based on the proposed constitutive equation is also investigated and a comparison between two constitutive models is also made. In order to numerically model the friction welding process of a thixocast A356 aluminium alloy and conventionally cast alloy of same material using a finite element method (FEM), temperature dependent physical properties, mechanical properties as well as viscoplastic constitutive equations were used in the model. A two- dimensional axisymmetric finite element model has been developed. The modelling is based on a coupled thermomechanical approach. First, a nonlinear, transient two-dimensional heat transfer model is developed to determine the temperature fields. Later, the temperature fields are used as input for a nonlinear, two-dimensional structural model in order to predict the distortions and von Mises stress. The finite element models are parametrically built using APDL (ANSYS Parametric Design Language) provided by ANSYS. The validation of the model is carried out by comparing with the experiment. Once validated, the thermomechanical model was used to perform parametric studies in order to investigate effects of various process parameters on temperature and stress distribution in the workpieces. This helps in deciding the range of parameters for friction welding experiments in order to get good weld. Both thixocast and conventionally cast samples exhibited similar temperature distribution during the friction welding process, because of identical thermophysical properties. The magnitude of von Mises stress distribution during friction welding of thixocast A356 sample is found to be lower than that of the conventionally cast sample. It is because of their different constitutive behaviour at elevated temperature. Moreover, the developed FEM model can be successfully used to predict the residual stress at various locations for different set of parameters and geometry for friction welding of thixocast and conventionally cast A356 alloy. This helps in reducing time consuming and expensive experiments on residual stress measurement. The chosen experiments based on Taguchi L27 orthogonal array were conducted on the friction welding machine which works on the principles of continuous drive-mechanism. The experimental specimens were machined from thixocast A356 aluminium alloy connecting rods as well as conventionally cast A356 aluminium alloy ingot in the form of cylindrical bars of dimensions 85mm length and 20mm diameter. The parameters used for welding were friction pressure, rpm, forge pressure, burn-off, and upset pressure. The effects of welding parameters on performance characteristics (i.e. tensile strength and weld efficiency) were evaluated. Taguchi method was applied to investigate the influence of each parameter on strength of joints and evaluate the combination of parameters that leads to the highest weld strength. Accordingly optimum process parameters was identified which helps in achieving the tensile strength of more than parent material. The optimized process parameters for friction welding of thixocast A356 aluminium alloy are rpm = 500, friction pressure = 60, upset time = 5, upset pressure = 100 and burn off = 5. The empirical relationships were also developed to predict the tensile strength. The developed relationship can be effectively used to predict the tensile strength of welded joint with a correlation coefficient of 0.86, which indicates the strong positive relationship between predicted and experimental data. Friction welding of thixocast A356 aluminium alloy helps to achieve very fine eutectic silicon particles of the order of 0.4 at the interface due to severe plastic deformation taking place during welding. Obtaining such fine eutectic silicon particles is difficult to be achieved within few seconds of processing by any other method. The hardness variation of friction welded thixocast alloy shows higher value as compared to that of a conventionally cast sample in the heat affected zone, which indicates better weld strength of the former. This was also confirmed by the tensile strength studied and fatigue test. This indicates that weldability of cast alloys will get improved if the microstructure is modified to globular type.

This thesis work is an experimental study of one type of Semi-Solid Metal casting (SSM) process which is called RheoMetalTM. This method is an efficient type of Rheocasting that creates a semi-solid slurry within 30 seconds that is used for a high pressure die casting machine. The purpose of using a slurry in a high pressure die casting machine is that the slurry has a higher viscosity due to its solid fraction. This makes the filling of the die cavity more laminar which reduces air entrapment in the casting. The difficulty with this type of casting is to control the process parameters to be able to insure a casting with desired properties. A few studies within RheoMetalTM has already been made but there is still a lack of knowledge of to what extent the process parameters affect the slurry. The goal in this work is to study how the different RheoMetalTM process parameters influence the primary α-Al solid fraction, shape and size. The process parameters that were studied in this work was the stirring rate, superheat and EEM amount. In this study, the so called growth layer has been removed to make more precise calculations of the primary α-Al. This work also aims to study how grain refinement affect the primary α-Al which is commonly used to improve the quality of castings. To be able to perform this study, both practical and theoretical work has been implemented. The casting process involved making of ladles and preparation of various equipment. The cast samples were then prepared by standard metallurgy procedure for optical analyse of the microstructure. A special etching reagent was used to analyse the microstructure in a microscope. The etching is called Weck’s reagent and its purpose is to differentiate the growth layer from the primary α-Al. The growth layer is formed during quenching and by excluding it, the calculation of the slurry’s primary α-Al becomes more precise. This is because the slurry is not quenched before it is inserted into the high pressure die casting machine, therefore no growth layer is formed. To analyse the cast samples, a special program was used to identify and to calculate the solid fraction, shape and size of the primary α-Al. The result from the calculations made by the program gave different tendencies when changing the EEM amount. The stirring rate showed a tendency to decrease the solid fraction and increase the shape factor. The superheat decreased the solid fraction and increased the shape factor. The grain refinement also decreased the solid fraction and increased the shape factor. There was no clear tendency showing that the equivalent circular diameter of the primary α-Al was affected by any of the parameters.

This thesis is deals with the suitability of Ag-Sn-Sb alloy for extrusion and selection of suitable materiál for the extruder nozzle. The theoretical part of this thesis deals with the general possibilities of 3D metal printing, especially the metal printing in the semi-solid phase and with it‘s problems. The experimental part describes the development of semi-solid alloys testing device and the research od the alloy and its interactions with solid materials in mutual motion. Analyzis of mechanical and chemical influence between alloy and solid material were performed by visual investigation and analysis of elements by EDS detector. The results of these analyzes led to the choise of nozzle material suitable for extrusion of Ag-Sn-Sb alloy.

High-pressure die casting of semi-solid aluminium-silicon alloys is used in the automotive industry to manufacture components, like housings, brackets, and bars. It is commonly known that during high-pressure die casting, defect bands may be created that follow the contour of the component surface. These bands consist mainly of a eutectic phase. This phenomenon is also observed in semi-solid metal slurry high-pressure die casting. These bands could lead to premature failure of the component in service. The origin of these bands is not fully understood and so this research focuses on investigating these bands and their origins further. A series of casting trials were conducted with varying plunger velocity. Subsequent investigation using optical and scanning electron microscopy showed that a change of the plunger velocity alters the number of bands present in the samples. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed that a measurable difference in aluminium quantity across the band was noticed and it was postulated that aluminium migrates towards the component centre. Therefore, different mechanisms responsible for particle migrations found in literature were investigated and assessed quantitatively using experimental data and information from published literature. It was found that the Saffman lift force and the Mukai-Lin-Laplace effect were the mechanisms that were most likely to cause such a migration of aluminium. Further experimental investigation is recommended to identify which of the two mechanisms is ultimately responsible for the migration and to optimise the high-pressure die casting procedure to minimise defect band formation. / Produktion av högtrycksgjutning av halvfasta aluminium-kisellegeringar används i fordonsindustrin för att tillverka komponenter, som exempel till kåpor, konsoler och stag. Det är allmänt känt att defektband kan formas under högtrycksgjutning som följer konturen av komponentytan. Dessa band består huvudsakligen av eutektisk fas. Detta fenomen har också observerats vid högtrycksgjutning produktion av halvfast slurry. Potentiellt kan dessa band leda till en försämring av komponentens mekaniska egenskaper och resultera i ett förtida brott. Ursprunget av dessa band är inte helt kartlagda och det är därför viktigt att fokusera ytterligare på denna forskning och att undersöka dessa band och deras ursprung. En serie med gjutningsförsök genomfördes med varierande kolvhastighet. Efterföljande undersökning med optisk- och svepelektronmikroskopi visade att en förändring av kolvhastigheten förändrar antalet band som finns i proverna. Energidispersiv röntgenspektroskopi avslöjade en mätbar skillnad i aluminiumkvantitet över bandet, och det antogs att aluminium migrerar mot centrum av komponenten. Därför undersöktes och utvärderades olika mekanismer som ansvarar för partikelmigrationer som finns att finna i litteratur med hjälp av experimentella data och information från publicerad litteratur. Det visade sig att Saffman lyftkraft och Mukai-Lin-Laplace effekten var de mekanismer som mest troligen orsakade migration av aluminium. Ytterligare experimentella försök rekommenderas för att identifiera vilken av dessa två mekanismerna som i slutändan är ansvarig för migrationen. Detta för att optimera gjutningsprocessen och därmed minimera uppkomsten av defektband.