Development of new aluminium alloys for semisolid processing

Semisolid metallurgy (SSM) or semisolid forming is an emerging technology that enables the forming of complicated shapes and the processing of materials increasing their mechanical properties compared with conventional methods. In the present article the advantages of SSM process are described in terms of fundamentals of the forming process and the microstructural characteristics of the product. An overview of the main casting methods in the semisolid state are also shown: Thixocasting and New Rheocasting (NRC). Each process is briefly analysed, their advantages/disadvantages identified and an attempt made to suggest that the latter one finds the optimal performance.