International Journal of Materials Science and Applications 2014; 3(6): 344-352 Published online November 20, 2014 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijmsa) doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140306.21 ISSN: 2327-2635 (Print); ISSN: 2327-2643 (Online) Evaluation of the rheological behavior of a semi-solid Al–SiC composite using a parallel-plate drop-forge viscometer Yasuyoshi Fukui *, Daisaku Nara, Kazuyo Fushimi, Noriyoshi Kumazawa Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan Email address:
[email protected] (Y. Fukui),
[email protected] (D. Nara),
[email protected] (K. Fushimi),
[email protected] (N. Kumazawa) To cite this article: Yasuyoshi Fukui, Daisaku Nara, Kazuyo Fushimi, Noriyoshi Kumazawa. Evaluation of the Rheological Behavior of a Semi-Solid Al–SiC Composite using a Parallel-Plate Drop-Forge Viscometer. International Journal of Materials Science and Applications. Vol. 3, No. 6, 2014, pp. 344-352. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20140306.21 Abstract: This paper presents of studies performed to assess the effect of rheological behavior on the near-net shape forming of an Al–20 vol% SiC composite of Duralcan F3A.20S and of the mother aluminum alloy A356 for comparison. Isothermal experiments were conducted using results of a parallel-plate drop-forge viscometer in a temperature range from 849 K (576 ºC) to 862 K (590 ºC). Each experiment indicated that the viscosity decreased in the early increasing shear rate stage and subsequently increased with decreasing shear rate. The overall relationship between the viscosity, µ [Pa .s], and the shear rate, γɺ [s -1], can be described by a power-law model of µ = 3.2 × 10 7 γɺ -1.5 for Duralcan and µ = 1.6 × 10 7γɺ -1.5 for A356.