Identification of Suitable Steels : Chapter 3

A range of steels is normally industrially available. The question here is to identify
those which are most suitable for thixoforming and to adapt the composition to maximise the
chances of success. In this chapter, the influence of alloying elements on the solidus and
liquidus temperatures and on the thixoforming window is identified. Some case studies for low
and medium carbon steels are given. Thermophysical properties are important for processing
and some information is given on the characterisation of these. High carbon chromium steels
are another class of steels which are potentially of use. The effect of modifying the Mn and Si
content of such steels is described. Thermodynamic prediction is a powerful tool and results
from such studies are given. There is then an analysis of the influence of micro-segregation,
which results from the original hot rolling, and its interaction with heating speed during the
reheating for thixoforming.